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Gc  m: 

977.101 
K77b  (' 

1195030 


GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


Oei^J 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

3  1833  02480  8575 


THE 

Biographical  Record 

OS 

KNOX  COUNTY. 
OHIO 

To    Which    is   Added    an    Elaborate    Compendium 
OF  National  Biography 


ILLUSTRATED 


'A  people  that  take  no  pride  in  the  noble  achievements  of  remote  ancestors  will  never 

achieve  anything  worthy  to  be  remembered  with  pride  by 

remote  generations." — Macaulay 


^ 


CHICAGO 
THE  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


1195030 

PART  I. 


KNOX  COUNTY. 


PREFACE. 


UT  of  the  depths  of  his  mature  wisdom  Carlyle  wrote, 
"History  is  the  essence  of  innumerable  biographies.  " 
Believing  this  to  be  the  fact,  there  is  no  necessity  of 
advancing  any  further  reason  for  the  compilation  of 
such  a  work  as  this,  if  reliable  history  is  to  be  the 
ultimate  object. 

Kno.x  County,  Ohio,  has  sustained  within  its  confines  men  who  have 
been  prominent  in  the  history  of  the  State  for  almost  a  century.  The  annals 
teem  with  the  records  of  strong  and  noble  manhood,  and,  as  Sumner  has 
said,  "the  true  grandeur  of  nations  is  in  those  qualities  which  constitute  the 
greatness  of  the  individual."  The  final  causes  which  shape  the  fortunes  of 
individuals  and  the  destinies  of  States  are  often  the  same.  They  are  usually 
remote  and  obscure,  and  their  influence  scarcely  perceived  until  manifestly 
declared  by  results.  That  nation  is  the  greatest  which  produces  the  greatest 
and  most  manly  men  and  faithful  women;  and  the  intrinsic  safety  of  a  com- 
munity depends  not  so  much  upon  methods  as  upon  that  normal  develop- 
ment from  the  deep  resources  of  which  proceeds  all  that  is  precious  and 
permanent  in  life.  But  such  a  result  may  not  consciously  be  contemplated 
by  the  actors  in  the  great  social  drama.  Pursuing  each  his  personal  good 
by  exalted  means,  they  work  out  as  a  logical  result. 

The  elements  of  success  in  life  consist  in  both  innate  capacity  and  determi- 
nation to  e.xcel.  Where  either  is  wanting,  failure  is  almost  certain  in  the  out- 
come. The  study  of  a  successful  life,  therefore,  serves  both  as  a  source  of 
information  and  as  a  stimulus  and  encouragement  to  those  who  have  the 
capacity.  As  an  important  lesson  in  this  connection  we  may  appropriately 
quote  Longfellow,  who  said:  "We  judge  ourselves  by  what  we  feel  capa- 
ble of  doing,  while  we  judge  others  by  what  they  have  already  done.  "  A 
faithful  personal  history  is  an  illustration  of  the  truth  of  this  observation. 


PREFACE. 

In  this  biographical  history  the  editorial  staff,  as  well  as  the  publishers, 
have  fully  realized  the  magnitude  of  the  task.  In  the  collection  of  the  ma- 
terial there  has  been  a  constant  aim  to  discriminate  carefully  in  regard  to  the 
selection  of  subjects.  Those  who  have  been  prominent  factors  in  the  public, 
social  and  industrial  development  of  the  county  have  been  given  due  recog- 
nition as  far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  secure  the  requisite  data.  Names 
worthy  of  perpetuation  here,  it  is  true,  have  in  several  instances  been  omit- 
ted, either  on  account  of  the  apathy  of  those  concerned  or  the  inability  of 
the  compilers  to  secure  the  information  necessary  for  a  symmetrical  sketch; 
but  even  more  pains  have  been  taken  to  secure  accuracy  than  were  promised 
in  the  prospectus.  Works  of  this  nature,  therefore,  are  more  reliable  and 
complete  than  are  the  "standard"  histories  of  a  country. 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


INDBX. 


Adams,  William  B.,  289 
Adrian,   M.   H.,   79 
Ames,    Benjamin,   95 
Anderson,  Alice  B.,  .372 
Anderson,   Robert   C,   173 
Armentrout,  Lyman  W.,  141 


Baker,  Oliver  P.,  277 
Baldwin,   William   F.,  255 
Ball,  Fanny  B.,  76 
Banning,  Anthony,  128 
Banning,   Henry    B.,    170 
Banning,  William  D.,  72 
Baxter,  John  K.,  221 
Bechtel,  Andrew,   181 
Beckley,  Calvin  W.,  108 
Beers,  Aaron  D.,  158 
Beggs,  Edward  C,  222 
Bell,  Isaac,  ,^jq 
Bell,  James,  29^; 
Bennett,   George   S..  213 
Benson,  Edward  C,   139 
Berry,  James   M.,  270 
Berry,   Patrick   A.,   2ig 
Best,  David  T.,  2^=; 
Beum,  R.  T.  291 
Bishop,   Clayton   H.,  230 
Bixby,  Eli,  347 
Black,  Albert  G.,  190 
Black,   Lyman   W.,   115 
Blackford,  Michael,  294 
Blair,    Clarena,   21 
Blair,  W.  Roscoe,  21 
Blubaugh,  John  J.,  116 
Blubaugh,   Joseph   F.,    ill 
Blubaugh,  Stephen,  357 
Blyston,  David  K.,  204 
Body,  William  R.,  205 


Bone,  Moses  C,  85 
Bottenfield.  William  L.,  223 
Bradfield,   Charles  R..   loi 
Breckler,  John  P.,  163 
Britton,  Lewis,  224 
Brown,  Joseph   C,   122 
Bulyer,  David,  245 
Burke,  George  W.,  355 
Buttles,  Levi,  134 


Campbell,  Edivvin  J.,  297 
Canning,   George   F-,   218 
Cannon,  James  M.,  180 
Cassell,  Arthur  C,  60 
Cassil,  Alexander,  112 
Cassil,  John  A.,  319 
Cassil,  Robert,  318 
Cavin,  Edw^ard  A.,  272 
Caywood.  Leander,  368 
Cochren,  John,  268 
Coe,  Charles  H.,  207 
Co?,   C.   W.,  209 
Coe,  James  W.,  45 
Collins,  James  P.,  88 
Colopy,  Jonathan  A..  342 
Colwill,  Simon  A.,  91 
Cooper,  Charles,  14 
Cooper,  Williami  C,  32 
Cover,  William  H.,  22 
Craig,  Stephen,  92 
Crippen,  Henry  A.,  86 
Critchiield,  Alexander,  35 
Critchfield,   Charles   E.,  248 
Critchfield,  Joseph,   124 
Critchfield,  Nathaniel,  147 
Critchfield,  Roland,  .^oo 
Cunningham,  Milton  AL,  65 
Curtis,  Henrv  B.,  18 
Curtis,  Henrv  L.,  262 
Curtis,  L.  B.,  262 
Curtis,   Walter   C,  262 


Darling,  Adam  H.,  46 
Davis,  James  W.,  266 
Davis,  Joseph  S.,  67 
Debolt,  Harmon  J.,  194 
Debolt,  William  I.,  310 
Deeley,  Stanton  E.,  199 
Delano,   Columbus.   184 
DeLong,  Jacob  H.,  234 
Dennis,  Lureston  W.,  13S 
Devin,  He..rv  C,  59 
Devin,  Joseph  C,  58 
Dickson,    James,    59 
Donahey,  Parmenis  N.,  8 
Drake.  Judson  R.,  126 
Durbin,  Benjamin,  233 
Durbin.  Charles  W.,  294 
Durbin,  Henry  P.,  41 
Durbin,   John   C,    149 
Durbin,  Raphael,  274 
Dutt,  George  M.,  269 


Earlywine,  Isaac,  124 
Eastman,  William  H.,  249 
Ebersole,  William,  38 
Elliott,  David  B.,  167 
Elliott,  Henry  R.,  260 
Ely,  William  L.,  256 
Ewalt,  Colum-bus,  62 
Ewers,  James  F.,  325 


Fairchild,  Frank  L..  88 
Fawcett,  John  M.,  100 
Ferris,  Harrison,  254 
Fish,  Alfred.  251 
Fish,  Joseph  A.,  162 
Fowler,  John,  350 


INDEX. 


Frasher,  William  H.,  53 

Jackson.  Isaac  L..  182 

McKinley,   John    L.,    120 

Fry,  W.  H.,  350 

Jackson.  Sylvadore.  215 

McKinney,   George   E..   283 

V 

Jeppesen.  John.   199 

Merriman.   W.    B.,    133 
Morningstar.    Abraham,   63 

G. 

Johnson.  Belle  C.   171 

Jones.  Fred  W..  176 

Motz,  John  M.,  345 

Gantt.  Samuel  0.,  198 

Jones.  Goshorn  A.,  212 

Mulhane,  L.  W.,  56 

Gilmor,  William.  77 

Murphy,  George  T.,   191 

Gilmore,  John.  285 

K. 

Murray.  Charles.  362 

Gilmore.   John   C.   279 

Mj'ers.  Jacob  B..   151 

Graham.  E.  S.,  ,326 

Kaylor,  Michael.  117 

Myers,  Joseph,  73 

Grant,  William  E..  220 

Kerr,  Benjamin.  136 

Green.  Hugh  L..   178 

Kerr,  Wilson  S..   1.36 

N. 

Green.  William  H..  378 

King.  Lawrence.  301 

Greer,  Alexander  W.,  319 

Kirk.  DeSault  B..  29 

Nixon.  Daniel,  31-1 

Greer,  Henry  H..  9 

Kirk.  Robert  C,  27 

Norrick,  John   H.,  271 

Griffith,  Benjamin  L.,  146 

Kirkpatrick.  Albert  S.,  252 

Nyhart,  David  L.,  332 

Grubb,  Levi.  145 

Knox.  Robert  A.,  153 

Nyhart,  Noah,  202 

Grubb.  C.  M.,  246 

L. 

0. 

H. 

Lanning.  Israel,  363 

Owen.  Frank  V..  64 

Hamilton.  Joseph  H..  211 

Larimore,  Isaac  P..  ig.i 

P. 

-Harper,   Franklin.  61 

Leedy,  Eugene  R.,  334 

Harris.  Henry  C,  140 

Leedy.  Isaac,  96 

Parsons,  Abraham,   118 

Harris,  John   O.,  71 

Leedy.  Joseph,  139 

Parsons,   Lanning,    119 

Harter,  George   S.,  344 

Leonard.  John.  43 

Parsons,  Nathan,  119 

Hawn.  William,  305 

Lepley.  Marvin.  106 

Phillips,  Thomas  S..  93 

Harden.   J.    K..   311 

Lepley.  Simon   C.   103 

Phillips,  W.  0.,  196 

Hayes,   Telford  F.,  371 

Levering.  Frank  0..   130 

Pitkin  Theodore  S..  228 

Hays.   Jacob,  82 

Levering.  Homer  B..  iji 

Ponterfield.  George  W..  65 

Hays,  Leander,  81 

Levering.   Milton   G..   374 

Potter.  S.  B.,  154 

Hays,  Morgan,  177 

Lewis,    Leander   H..    12 

Pumphrey,  Josiah  M..  136 

Head,  Thomas  R..   164 

Lindley,  John  W..  335 

Purdy,  Richard  D..  68. 

Henley,    Charles    W..    52 

Lockwood.  Eliakim  E..  321 

Putnam,  Robert,  282 

Henwood,  George  E.,  330 

Loney,  J.  Calvin.   160 

Putnam.  Walter  S.,  2S2 

Hervey.  George  E.,  375 

Long,  John   R..   195 

Hibbets,  Henry,  288 

I.osh.  John  J.,  341 

R. 

Hickman,  Thomas  C..  104 

Lybarger.   INIarvin.   105 

Honey,  James,  167 

Ramey.  E.  M..  339 

Horn,  Martin  J.,  94 

M. 

Republican   Pub.    Co..   259 

Horn,  R.  D.,  370 

Rice,  C.  F.,  333 

Houck,  Lewis  B.,  312 

Martin,   Clay  D.,   160 

Rice,  Clinton  M..  107 

Hunt.  LeRoy  G.,  168 

Martin,  James.  373 

Rice.  Oscar.  159 

Hyatt.  John  J..  331 

McCament.  Leander.  50 

Richert,  John,  174 

Hyatt.  Luther  L.,  239 

McCamment,  William,  348 

Robertson,  Amasa  P..  229 

McCluer.  William,  ,307 

Robertson,  H.   H..  232 

L 

McDaniel,   David,  280 

Robertson,  John  T.,  250 

McDaniel,  John.  299 

Roof,  Perry.  123 

lams.  Charles  C.  259 

McDermott.  William.  360 

Rush,  John  L,.  37 

Inks.  Thomas  A.,  70 

McFadden.   William.   2,7 

S. 

McParland,  Joseph   A.,  241 

J. 

McGinley.  James.  143 

Sapp,  Dwight  E..  48 

McGinley.  Wilson  S..  304 

Sapp.  George.   114 

Jackson.  Charles  C,  261 

McGugin.  Daniel.  327 

Scholes,  Allen,  377 

INDEX. 


Schroeder.  William  L.,  2S 
Scott,  Joseph,  322 
Scott,  Lewis  B.,  366 
Searl,   Otis,   150 
Sellers,  Delphos  S.,  74 
Sellers.  George,  309 
Severns,    French   W.,   99 
Severns,   Samuel,   104 
Shaffer,  David,  80 
Sherwood,  Hauphrey,  264 
Shipley,   George  W.,   365 
Shuff,  George  W.,  84 
Shults,  George  W.,  203 
Simmons,   Nathan,   343 
Simons,  Fred  D..  .so 
Simons,  Monroe  J.,  298 
Sim-pson,  John,   292 
Smith,   Benjamin,   127 
Smith,  John  H.,  353 
Smith.  William  H.,  39 
Snively,  John,  346 
Snyder,  James   L.,   276 
Spry,  George  H,,  36 
Staats,  Joseph,  275 
Stahl,    Daniel   W.,   287 
Stillwell,    Francis    M.,    157 
Strong,  Norman  M.,  337 


Sutton,  J'.   S.,  324 
Swank,   George.  307 
Swingle,  Chris,  244 


Taylor,   Eli  John   P.,  47 
Taylor,  George  H.,  87 
Thayer,  George  E.,  221 
Thayer,  Walter  H.,  221 
Toland,  Nicholas  S.,  igi 
Trimble,   Thomas   IT.,  296 
Tulloss,  John  J.,  165 


Vance,  Joseph  W.,  352 
Vannatta,  Samuel  T.    144 

W. 

Wagner,  Henrv,  328 
Walkey,   William   W.,  303 
Wander,  Michael,  no 
Watkins,  Frank,  217 
Watson,  A.  G.,  291 
Waus-h,  John.  71 


Weider,  Adam  C.,  323 
Welker,  George  A.,  179 
Welsh,  Mathew,  242 
White,   Harmon,   277 
Whitworth,  John  T.,  281 
Williams,  L.  L.,  173 
Willits,  David,  24 
Wilson,  James  P.,  286 
Wineland,  Enhraim  M.,  51 
Wolfe,  Albert  I.,  314 
Wolfe,  Gary  E.,  210 
Wolfe,   Eli   A.,  42 
Wolfe,  Frederick  C.,  354 
Workman,   Andrew   J.,   359 
Workman,  Barnett  B..  367 
Workman,  Elisha,  129 
Workman,  James,  340 
Workman,  Joseph  T,,  201 
Workman,  Mark,  243 
Workman,   Uriah   C,   156 
Wright,  Albert,  265 


Yauger,  George  W.,  31 
Yearley,  William  H.,  90 
Young,   Silas,  78 


M.  ^  ^^m^ 


A  CENTENNIAL  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 

OF 

KNOX  COUNTY,  OHIO 


HENRY  H.  GREER. 

Ohio  has  always  been  distinguished  for 
the  high  rank  of  her  bench  and  bar.  Many 
of  her  jurists  and  attorneys  have  been  men 
of  national  fame,  and  among  those  whose 
lives  have  been  passed  on  a  quieter  plane 
there  is  scarcely  a  town  or  city  in  the  state 
but  can  boast  of  one  or  more  lawyers  capable 
of  crossing  swords  in  forensic  combat  with 
any  of  the  distinguished  legal  lights  of  the 
United  States.  In  Mr.  Greer  we  find  united 
many  of  the  rare  qualities  which  go  to  make 
up  the  successful  lawyer.  He  possesses, 
perhaps,  few  of  those  brilliant,  dazzling  me- 
teoric qualities  which  have  sometimes 
flashed  along  the  legal  horizon,  riveting  the 
gaze  and  blinding  the  vision  for  the  moment, 
then  disappearing,  leaving  little  or  no  trace 
behind,  but  rather  has  those  solid  and  more 
substantial  qualities  which  shine  with  a  con- 
stant luster,  shedding  light  in  the  dark 
places  with  steadiness  and  continuity.  Mr. 
Greer  has  in  an  eminent  degree  that  rare 
ability  of  saying  in  a  convincing  way  the 


right  thing  at  the  right  time.  His  mind  is- 
analytical,  logical  and  inductive.  With  a. 
thorough  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of 
the  fundamental  principles  of  law,  he  com- 
bines a  familiarity  with  statutory  law  and  a. 
sober  clear  judgment  which  makes  him  a 
formidable  legal  adversary. 

Mr.  Greer  is  one  of  the  native  residents 
of  Knox  county,  his  birth  having  here  oc- 
curred on  the  22d  of  July,  1837.  He  is  a 
descendant  of  Revolutionary  ancestry,  two 
of  his  great  uncles  holding  office  in  the  Co- 
lonial Army  in  the  war  for  independence, 
one  being  a  colonel.  Both  were  in  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill  and  at  the  siege  of  Valley 
Forge.  The  family  has  ever  been  celebrated 
for  its  patriotism,  loyalty,  endurance  and  de^ 
termination.  Major  Alexander  Greer,  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  na- 
tive of  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  crossed 
the  zA.tlantic  to  the  new  world  in  1785.  He 
was  a  most  successful  man  of  affairs,  his  en- 
terprise enabling  him  to  conduct  a  prosper- 
ous business.  Colonel  John  Greer,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  near 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


Belfast,  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in 
the  year  1800.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual 
strength  of  mind,  a  thoughtful  and  scholarly 
gentlaiian,  well  educated  and  was  of  a  patri- 
otic spirit,  earnestly  attached  to  the  institu- 
tions and  forms  of  government  of  his  adopt- 
ed country,  which  he  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  18 12.  A.  Banning  Norton,  in 
his  History  of  Knox  county,  says  of  him : 
"The  Greers  are  mainly  descended  from  that 
noble  old  patriarch,  John  Greer,  who  was  a 
native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  was  what 
is  called  'an  Irish  patriot.'  "  Being  pos- 
sessed of  a  powerful  constitution  and  strong, 
Tigorous  intellect,  he  took  a  prominent  posi- 
tion among  the  pioneers,  and  being  particu- 
larly efficient  in  military  matters  he  did 
much  to  promote  the  formation  of  com- 
panies in  the  eastern  townships.  From  1812 
to  181 7  he  served  as  collector  of  taxes  and 
in  1830  was  elected  to  represent  his  district 
in  the  state  legislature. 

Major  Alexander  Greer,  the  father  of 
H.  H.  Greer,  was  born  in  Washington  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  in  1805,  and  when  five 
^ears  of  age  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Ohio,  the  family  locating  amid  the  first  set- 
tlers of  the  eastern  district  of  Knox  county. 
He  was  a  man  of  high  character  and  sterling 
integrity,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem.  He 
tilled  a  number  of  positions  of  trust,  early 
engaged  in  promoting  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion and  used  his  influence  to  further  all 
that  was  best  for  his  fellow  men.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  the 
county,  industrious  and  capable  and  possess- 
ing the  highest  integrity.  He  was  largely 
instrumental  in  laying  broad  and  deep  the 
foundation  for  the  present  prosperity  and 
progress  of  the  county  and  was  honored  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.   He  married 


Alargaret  Robinson,  a  daughter  of  William 
Robinson,  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Knox  county,  coming  from  Mary- 
land in  1809.  He  represented  Knox  county 
in  the  legislature  in  the-  years  1826-7.  ^J^^s. 
Greer  was  a  lady  of  great  worth,  of  strong 
mentality  and  gentle  influence. 

From  the  foregoing  ancestral  history  it 
will  be  seen  that  Henry  Harrison  Greer 
sprang  from  sturdy  pioneer  stock  and  in- 
herited patriotic  spirit.  His  early  years 
were  spent  in  a  manner  not  unlike  that  of 
most  farm  boys  of  the  period.  He  attended 
the  common  school  and  worked  on  the  farm, 
but  later  better  educational  facilities  were 
afforded  his  in  the  schools  of  Millwood  and 
Haysville  and  in  Dennison  University.  Pro- 
fessional life  attracted  him  and  desiring  to 
become  a  member  of  the  bar  he  began  read- 
ing law  in  the  office  of  Delano,  Sapp  & 
Smith.  Upon  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  he 
continued  his  studies  under  the  direction  of 
Walter  H.  Smith,  and  in  May,  i860,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  did  not,  however, 
immediately  enter  upon  practice  for  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  leading  deputy  in  the 
office  of  his  father,  who  was  county  treas- 
urer of  Knox  county.  The  following  year 
Mr.  Greer  was  elected  to  succeed  his  father 
in  the  position,  which  he  filled  until  1864, 
v.hen,  declining  a  re-election,  he  entered 
into  a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  W.  R. 
Sapp,  a  relation  that  was  maintained  from 
1865  until  April,  1869.  At  that  time  he 
succeeded  to  the  practice  and  law  office  of 
Hon.  W.  H.  Smith,  upon  the  latter's  accept- 
ance of  the  solicitorship  of  the  bureau  of  in- 
ternal revenue  in  the  treasury  department, 
to  which  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Grant  and  from  which  he  was  promoted  to 
the  position  of  assistant  attorney  general. 


3  1833  02480  8575 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


It  is  the  theory  of  the  law  that  the  coun- 
sel who  practice  are  to  aid  the  court  in  the 
administration  of  justice  and  such  has  been 
the  aim  of  the  professional  career  of  Air. 
Greer.  He  has  been  most  careful  to  conform 
his  practice  to  a  high  standard  of  profes- 
sional ethics.  He  has  never  sought  to  lead 
the  court  astray  in  a  matter  of  fact  or  law. 
Calm,  dignified,  free  from  passion  or  preju- 
dice and  overflowing  with  kindness,  he  gives 
to  his  clients  the  service  of  great  talent,  un- 
wearied industry  and  rare  learning,  but  he 
never  forgets  that  there  are  certain  things 
due  tO'  the  court,  to  his  own  self-respect  and 
above  all  to  justice  and  a  righteous  adminis- 
tration of  the  law,  which  neither  the  zeal  of 
an  advocate  nor  the  pleasure  of  success  will 
permit  him  to  disregard. 

Mr.  Greer  continued  to  practice  alone 
until  1889,  when  he  admitted  his  son,  Rob- 
ert M.  Greer,  to-  a  partnership.  The  son 
was  graduated  in  Kenyon  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  read  law  with  his  father,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  June,  1889,  and  imme- 
diately thereafter  became  a  member  of  the 
law  firm  of  H.  H.  and  R.  M.  Greer,  a  style 
then  adopted  and  still  preserved.  The  jun- 
ior member  possesses  ai  good  intellectual 
equipment,  a  fine  collegiate  education,  is 
well  grounded  in  the  general  principles  of 
law,  is  apt  in  discrimination  of  decisions  of 
courts  and  is  already  well  established  in 
practice.  As  a  counselor  Henry  H.  Greer 
stands  pre-eminent  in  the  estimation  of  the 
local  bar,  in  the  disposition  and  manage- 
ment of  really  large  and  important  affairs. 
Well  informed  in  the  law,  he  is  further  forti- 
fied by  quick  and  clear  perceptions  of  the 
points  involved  in  a  controversy,  a  mental 
grasp  that  comprehends  all  details  and  a 
capacity  for  reasoning  that  enables  him  to 


arrive  at  correct  conclusions.  In  the  pre- 
sentation of  the  law  to  the  court  he  is  strong, 
clear,  exhaustive  and  forceful.  In  the  argu- 
ment of  facts  to  the  jury  he  also  has  great 
power  and  he  occupies  a  foremost  place  at 
the  bar.  It  is  his  aim  to  be  just,  fair  and 
considerate  of  the  proof  to  such  an  extent 
that  juries  have  great  confidence  in  his  state- 
ments. For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  cent- 
ury he  has  been  connected  with  the  most  im- 
portant litigation  of  the  county. 

In  matters  appertaining  to  the  adminis- 
tration and  settlements  of  large  estates,  the 
adjustments  of  conflicting  interests  requiring 
tact  and  diplomacy  as  well  as  legal  knowl- 
edge, Mr.  Greer  is  employed  very  frequent- 
ly. For  many  years  he  has  been  intimately 
connected  with  affairs  of  the  community  de- 
manding enterprise  and  public  spirit.  He 
has  also  given  much  attention  to  business 
and  corpo^ration  matters.  In  1888  he  accept- 
ed the  position  of  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Knox  County  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  which  is  the  oldest  mutual  com- 
pany in  Ohio.  Its  incorporators  were 
men  of  great  prominence,  high  commer- 
cial standing  and  personal  responsibility, 
the  number  including  the  Hon.  Colum- 
bus Delano,  who  in  his  lifetime  was 
the  peer  of  the  ablest  men  in  the 
state.  This  company,  under  the  careful 
and  wise  management  of  the  secretary,  has 
been  successful  as  a  corporation  and  gained 
wide  popularity  by  its  promptness  in  paying 
losses.  Unusually  liberal  in  the  treatment 
of  its  patrons  by  accepting  a  small  percent- 
age rate  for  insurance,  the  company  has 
paid  losses  aggregating  over  a  million  dol- 
lars. Regarding  it  as  a  foster  child  Mr. 
Greer  has  guarded  and  protected  and  pro- 
moted its  interests  without  in  the  least  neg- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


lecting  his  law  business  or  other  duties.  At 
this  time  the  company  is  one,  if  not  the  very 
strongest,  mutual  insurance  company  in  the 
state,  resting  upon  a  financial  basis  of  en- 
during strength. 

For  the  last  fourteen  years  Mr.  Greer 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Columbus 
State  Hospital  board  of  trustees,  receiving 
his  appointment  two  out  of  the  three  times 
from  the  late  lamented  President  William 
McKinley,  who  was  then  governor  of  Ohio, 
and  with  whom  iie  was  intimately  associated. 
In  the  past  six  years  Mr.  Greer  has  been  the 
president  of  the  board  and  during  all  these 
years  large  sums  of  money  have  passed  un- 
der the  management  and  control  of  this 
board  without  the  loss  of  a  single  dollar, 
showing  a  scrupulous  honesty  and  care  of 
the  interests  of  the  state  and  that  of  its  un- 
fortunate wards.  The  estimated  value  of 
his  official  services  is  fairly  inferable  from 
these  circumstances.  He  has  not  been  a 
candidate  for  political  office  and  has  even 
refused  to  stand  for  nomination  for  the  ju- 
dicial office.  He)  had  formidable  and  in- 
fluential support  for  appointment  to  the 
high  and  honorable  position  of  judge  of  the 
United  States  court  of  appeals.  His  name 
was  considered  by  President  Harrison  at  the 
request  of  men  of  great  prominence  in  the 
party  and  the  profession,  both  in  central 
Ohio  and  Cleveland.  Among  those  who 
visited  Washington  and  called  upon  the 
president  in  his  behalf  was  Columbus  Bel- 
ano.  Although  the  candidates  for  the  place 
were  numerous  he  was  second  only  to 
Judge  Taft  in  the  favor  of  the  appointing 
ixiwer,  and  second  to  none  in  qualifications 
and  endorsements.  He  had  always  been 
connected  with  the  Republican  party  and 
has  long  been  a  trusted  advisor  in  its  coun- 


cils. Whatever  he  has  done  to  direct  politi- 
cal policy  or  to  promote  partisan  success 
had  not  its  inspiration  in  self-interest,  but  in 
the  conviction  that  the  policy  of  the  party 
to  which  he  belongs  would  better  conserve 
the  interests  of  the  people.  He  has  been 
absolutely  free  from  political  ambition  in 
a  personal  sense.  A  native  of  the  county 
which  has  been  his  home  during  the  sixty- 
five  years  of  his  life  Mr.  Greer  has  become 
thoroughly  identified  with  the  people  and  the 
welfare  of  the  community.  His  life  has 
been  open  and  more  than  ordinarily  prom- 
inent. He  is  well  known  to  his  fellow  citi- 
zens and  his  reputation  is  safe  in  their  hands. 
He  is  of  good  report  among  them.  If  any 
antagonisms  have  been  aroused  they  are 
only  such  as  a  man  of  force  and  activity  is 
liable  tO'  encounter  in'  the  performance  of 
his  duty.  He  is  a  leader  in  the  affairs  of  the 
municipality  and  is  relied  upon  as  the  friend 
and  champion  of  policies  and  measures  best 
adapted  to  the  wants  oif  a  progressive  com- 
munity. His  daily  life  illustrates  the  spirit 
of  Qiristianity  without  the  badge  of  public 
profession  or  church  membership.  He  is 
charitable,  hospitable,  kind  and  true-hearted. 
He  has  a  secure  place  in  the  confidence  and 
the  affection  of  his  neighbors,  as  well  as- 
an  honorable  position  in  the  profession. 


LEANDER  PI.  LEWIS. 

One  of  the  most  widely  known  and 
popular  citizens  of  Knox  county  is  Leander 
Head  Lewis,  who  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Mount  Vernon.  He  has  been  actively 
and  prominently  connected  with  mercantile 
interests  in  Fredericktown  and  Mount  Ver- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


non,  has  been  honored  with  pubHc  office  and 
now  has  put  aside  business  cares  to  enjoy  a 
well-earned  rest.  The  circle  of  his  friends 
is  almost  coextensive  with  the  circle  of  his 
acquaintances,  and  his  life  history  will  be 
gladly  received  by  many  of  our  readers. 

Mr.  Lewis  is  one  of  Ohio's  native  sons, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Huron  county, 
on  the  23d  of  August,  1843.  He  represents 
one  of  the  oldest  families  of  America,  tracing 
his  ancestry  back  to  one  of  five  brothers, 
who  came  from  Wales  in  early  colonial  days. 
One  settled  at  Whitestown,  Long  Island, 
one  at  Pawtucket,  one  at  Puilmore, 
another  at  Exeter,  and  Daniel  became  a 
resident  of  Connecticut.  It  is  from  him 
that  our  subject  is  descended.  Daniel 
Lewis  was  the  father  of  seven  sons 
and  a  number  of  daughters.  His  son,  Enn- 
iel,  settled  in  Westerly  and  had  seven  -hil- 
dren,  namely:  Jasper,  Waitstill,  Poene- 
nagh,  William,  Mary  and  two  whose  names 
are  not  remembered. 

The  line  of  descent  is  brought  on  down 
to  Joseph  Lewis,  wIto  was  born  in  1720 
and  in  1752  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary 
Bliven,  who  was  born  in  1734.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Edward  Bliven,  whose  parents 
were  Edward  and  Freelove  (Baker)  Bliven. 
He  was  a  native  of  Somerset,  England  and 
married  Ereelove  Baker,  whose  father,  Pe- 
ter Baker,  was  a  Baptist  minister.  Their 
son,  Edward  Bliven,  Jr.,  was  married  and 
his  children  were  Joseph,  Edward,  Peter, 
Mabel,  Patience,  John,  Nathan,  Mary  and 
Sarah.  Of  this  number  Mary  Bliven  be- 
came the  wife  of  Joseph  Lewis.  He  died  in 
1799  and  she  survived  until  1813,  when  she, 
too,  passed  away.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  Freelove,  born  in  1753;  Sylves- 
ter, in   1754;  Wealthy,  in   1755;  Mary,  in 


1757;  Sylvia,  in  1759;  Hannah,  in  1760; 
Joseph,  in  October,  1762;  John,  in  1767; 
Sarah,  in  1770;  Abigail,  in  1772;  and  Elias, 
in  1775. 

Of  this  family  Joseph  Lewis  Jr.,  who 
was  born  in  October,  1762,  was  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject.  He  wedded  Mary 
Gilbert  and  their  children  were  Jasper,  Gil- 
bert, Becky,  Mary,  Elias,  Jonathan,  Charles 
and  James  B.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  the  father  married  Susan  Clark.  James 
B.  Lewis  a  son  of  the  first  marriage,  and  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  September 
10,  1802,  and  after  arriving  at  years  of  ma- 
turity was  married,  on  the  14th  of  July, 
1825,  to  Miss  Louisa  White,  who  died  Sep^ 
teniber  11,  1840.  On  the  24th  of  June, 
1 84 1,  he  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Susain  Head,  who  was 
born  June  2,  1812.  Unto  them  were  born 
two  sons.  Leander  Head  and  James  S. 

The  former,  the  subject  of  this  reveiw, 
was  reared  to  manhood  under  the  parental 
roof  and  in  the  public  schools  of  Huron 
county  pursued  his  education  .  When  a 
young  man  of  twenty  years  he  came  to  Knox 
county,  settling  in  Fredericktown,  where 
he  was  employed  as  a  shipping  clerk  in  the 
service  of  C.  R.  Hooker.  After  a  few 
years  he  began  business  on  his  own  account 
as  a  merchant,  dealing  in  dry  goods  and 
clothing.  His  patronage  steadily  increased 
and  he  became  one  of  the  leading  merchants 
of  the  town,  doing  a  large  and  profitable  bus- 
iness until  1888,  when  he  sold  his  entire 
stock,  after  being  appointed  deputy  treas- 
urer of  Knoix  county  under  W.  H.  Ralston. 
In  1889  he  removed  his  family  to  Mount 
Vernon,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  served  as  deputy  treasurer  for  four  years 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  re- 


A    CEXTEXXIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


sunied  merchandising,  establishing  a  store, 
which  he  stocked  with  groceries,  boots  and 
shoes.  He  was  not  long  in  securing  a  lib- 
eral patronage  and  successfully  carried  on 
the  store  until  April,  1901,  when  he  sold 
out  and  retired  to  private  life.  His  toil, 
capable  management  and  enterprise  in  form- 
er years  brought  to  him  a  handsome  com- 
petence which  now  enables  him  to  rest  from 
his  labors  and  yet  enjoy  many  of  the  com- 
forts and  luxuries  of  life. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1867,  Mr. 
Lewis  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Aker, 
a  daughter  of  Bowman  and  Rebecca  (Cas- 
sel)  Aker.  She  was  born  March  8,  1847, 
and  died  on  the  8th  of  April,  1872.  Mr. 
Lewis  has  since  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Mansoneta  (Braddock) 
Durbin.  Her  sister,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Dur- 
bin)  Cattle,  died  July  17,  1890,  while  an- 
other sister,  Mrs.  Olive  Baker,  passed  away 
in  October,  1891.  Her  half  brother.  Pro- 
fessor C.  W.  Durbin,  died  December  25, 
1895,  and  Mrs.  Samantha  (Durbin)  Gran- 
din,  died  February  21,  1890.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lewis  were  born  two  children.  The 
son,  George  Durbin  Lewis,  was  born  Jan- 
uary 20,  187S,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Ohio  state  militia.  When  war  was  declared 
against  Spain  he  enlisted  in  Company  L, 
Fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  under  Col- 
onel Coyt  and  was  made  first  duty  sergeant. 
After  three  weeks  spent  in  camp  at  Colum- 
bus the  regiment  went  with  General  Miles  to 
Porto  Rico,  where  it  was  stationed  at  the 
time  peace  was  declared.  Mr.  Lewis  then 
returned  with  his  command,  was  honorably 
discharged  and  mustered  out  of  the  ser\-ice 
January  20,  1899.  He  dien  became  em- 
ployed in  the  INIount  Vernon  postoffice, 
where  he  remained   until  August   6,    1901, 


when  he  went  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
where  he  is  now  located.  Iva  Browning, 
the  only  daughter  of  ]\Ir.  and  I\Irs.  Lewis, 
was  born  August  27,  1882.  She  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Mount  Vernon  high  school  and 
is  now  taking  a  special  course  as  an  elocu- 
tionist in  the  Northwestern  University,  at 
Evanston,  Illinois. 

The  family  occupy  a  commodious  and  el- 
egant residence  on  North  Main  street.  It 
is  surrounded  by  a  large  and  shady  lawn 
and  is  most  attractive,  being  celebrated  for 
its  gracious  and  pleasing  hospitality.  Mrs. 
Lewis  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  and  politically  he  is  a  strong  Re- 
publican. He  is  one  of  the  best-known  men 
of  the  county  and  his  many  excellencies  of 
character  have  gained  for  him  a  host  of 
warm  friends. 


CHARLES   COOPER. 

The  history  of  a  country  is  chiefly  the 
chronicle  of  the  lives  and  deeds  of  those  who 
have  conferred  honor  and  dignity  upon  so- 
ciety. The  world  judges  the  character  of  a 
community  by  that  of  its  representative  cit- 
izens, and  yields  its  tribute  of  admiration  and 
respect  to  the  genius,  learning  or  virtues  of 
those  whose  works  and  actions  constitute 
the  record  of  a  country's  prosperity  and 
pride;  and  it  is  in  their  character,  as  exem- 
plified in  probity  and  benevolence,  kindly 
virtues  and  integrity  in  the  affairs  of  life, 
are  ever  affording  worthy  examples  for  em- 
ulation and  valuable  lessons  of  incentive. 

To  a  student  of  biography  there  is  noth- 
ing more  interesting  than  to  examine  the 
life  history  of  a  self-made  man  to  detect  the 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


elements  of  character  which  have  enabled 
him  to  pass  on  the  highway  of  life  many  of 
the  companions  of  his  youth  who  at  the  out- 
set of  their  careers  were  more  advantageous- 
ly equipped  or  endowed.  The  subject  of 
this  review  through  his  own  exertions  at- 
tained an  honorable  position  and  marked 
prestige  among  the  representative  men  of 
his  state,  and  with  signal  consistency  it  may 
be  said  that  he  was  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortunes,  having  builded  wisely  and  well. 

Charles  Cooper,  who  during  his  life 
time  as  a  resident  of  Mount  Vernon  and 
was  the  founder  of  the  C.  &  G.  Cooper  En- 
gine Works,  was  born  in  Clinton  township, 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  January, 
iSii.  He  was  a  son  of  Cary  and  Elizabeth 
(Ruple)  Cooper.  The  father,  born  in  Mor- 
ris county.  New  Jersey,  on  the  29th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1 78 1,  came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in 
1806,  and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  passing  away  in  1831.  His  wife,  also  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  March,  1784, 
passed  away  in  death  in  this  county  in  1868, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Their  mar- 
riage was  celebrated  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1803,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Their  son,  Charles,  was  reared  to  manhood 
on  the  home  farm,  and  about  1831  he  re- 
moved tO'  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  coal  mining  on  a  moderate  scale 
for  two  and  a  half  years.  Business,  how- 
ever, did  not  prosper  to  the  extent  desired 
by  our  subject,  and  one  day,  in  a  discouraged 
condition,  he  threw  himself  upon  the  grass 
and  while  engaged  in  thought  observed  the 
smoke  issuing  from  a  cupola. of  an  old-time 
Zanesville  foundry.  The  thought  at  once 
flashed  through  his  mind  that  he  would  es- 
tablish   a  foundry    in  !Mount    Vernon    and. 


springing  to  his  feet,  resolved  to  make  this 
inspiration  a  reality.  A  rapid  and  firm  de- 
cision and  instantianeous  and  effective  action 
were  the  qualities  most  uppermost  in  Mr. 
Cooper's  business  character,  and  these  won 
for  him  his  remarkable  success.-  In  1833 
he  and  his  brother,  Elias,  erected  their 
foundry  and  began  the  manufacture  of 
plows,  hallO'W-ware  and  such  castings  as 
were  demanded  in  Mount  Vernon  and  the 
surrounding  country.  This  enterprise  grew 
rapidly,  and  Mr.  Cooper  delighted  to  relate 
to  his  family  and  intimate  friends  the  cir- 
cumstances which  led  to  the  establishment  of 
this  successful  concern.  On  one  other  oc- 
casion was  he  similarly  influenced  by  some 
unforseen  force.  Bowed  down  and  dis- 
heartened by  business  losses  during  the  panic 
of  1857,  while  crossing  the  Mount  Vernon 
square  he  experienced  a  renewel  of  determin- 
ation and  strength  in  answer  to  a  prayer, 
and  this  prepared  him  lo  successfully  weath- 
er the  financial  storm  which  was  so  keenly 
felt  throughout   the   country. 

In  1840  the  firm  began  the  manufacture 
of  threshing  machines,  this  proving  a  profit- 
able addition  to  their  already  extensive  bus- 
iness. Elias  Cooper  died  in  1848,  and  in 
the  following  year  T.  L.  Qark  purchased  a 
third  interest  in  the  plant,  business  being 
then  conducted  under  the  firm,  name  of  Coo- 
per &  Clark  until  1850,  when  John  Cooper, 
a  brother  of  our  subject,  also  purchased  a 
third  interest,  the  firm  being  then  known  as 
Coopers  &  Clark.  In  1853  Mr.  Clark  re- 
tired, the  business  style  then  becoming  C. 
&  J.  Cooper.  In  January,  1868,  F.  L.  Fair- 
child  purchased  an  interest  and  the  business 
was  then  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of 
C.  &  J.  Cooper  &  Co.  In  January,  1869,  the 
works  of  C.  &  J.  Cooper  &  Co.  and  Coopers 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


&  Rogers  were  consolidated  and  C.  G.  Coop- 
er, a  son  of  Elias  Cooper,  and  Colonel 
George  Rogers  were  admitted  to  the  partner- 
ship, the  business  continuing  under  the  firm 
name  of  C.  &  J.  Cooper  &  Co.  In  November, 
1869,  John  Cooper  retired,  and  the  business 
was  thereafter  conducted  under  the  firm, 
name  of  C.  &  G.  Cooper  &  Co.  In  188 1  Col- 
onel George  Rogers  retired  from  the  busi- 
ness and  D.  B.  Kirk  and  C.  F.  Cooper,  a  son 
of  Charles  Cooper,  became  interested  in  the 
business.  Colonel  George  Rogers'  business 
career  was  ended  in  death  in  1882. 

In  1853  C.  &  J.  Cooper  built  one  of  the 
first  locomotives  constructed  west  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains,  which  was  used  on 
the  Ohio  Central  Railroad  for  many  years. 
They  constructed  a  number  of  locomotives, 
but  the  original  plant  has  been  lost  in  the 
rapid  growth  and  development  of  this  im- 
portant concern.  The  plant  now  covers  an 
area  of  several  acres.  For  a  number  of  years 
the  company  have  confined  their  efforts  to 
the  manufacture  of  Corliss  engines,  and  in 
this  line  they  have  established  a  reputation 
second  to  none  in  the  United  States,  their 
products  being  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the 
world. 

In  1895  the  business  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  and  style  of  The  C.  &  G. 
Cooper  Company,  and  the  following  officers 
elected :  Charles  Cooper,  chairman  of  the 
board  of  directors,  which  position  he  held 
until  the  time  of  his  death;  F.  L.  Fairchild, 
president  oi  the  company ;  C.  G.  Cooper,  sec- 
retary; D.  B.  Kirk,  treasurer.  The  same 
officers  have  continued  up  to  the  present 
time. 

Charles  Cooper  had  a  remarkable  record, 
and  from  the  study  of  his  life  history  one 
may  learn  valuable  lessons.     It  illustrates 


in  no  uncertain  manner  what  is  possible  to 
accomplish  when  perseverance  and  deter- 
mination form  the  keynote  to  a  man's  life. 
Depending  upon  his  own  resources  he  arose 
from  comparative  obscurity  to  a  place  of 
prominence  in  the  business  and  social  world, 
and  the  town  of  Mount  Vernon  owes  much 
to  him  on  account  of  his  connection  with 
her  business  interests. 

In  politics  Mr.  Cooper  was  a  Whig,  with 
strong  anti-slavery  sentiments,  and  he  as- 
sisted many  a  slave  to  continue  his  march 
toward  freedom,  the  colored  population  of 
Mount  Vernon  always  finding  in  him  a 
friend.  In  1856,  on  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party,  he  joined  its  ranks,  and 
in  1868  he  was  the  Republican  candidate 
for  congress.  He  was  also  a  friend  to  the 
poor  and  needy,  but  his  gifts  were  without 
ostentation.  Oberlin,  Kenyon  and  other  ed- 
ucational institutions  were  the  recipients  of 
his  generous  gifts,  and  he  was  always 
greatly  interested  in  local  charities,  the  Chil- 
dren's Home  having  been  an  object  of 
special  interest  to  him  and  of  which  he  was 
the  founder  and  constant  benefactor.  He 
was  for  several  years  and  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death  the  president  of  the  Knox  National 
Bank,  of  Mount  Vernon,  president  of  the 
Mount  Vernon  Gas  Company,  and  was  also 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Mound 
View  cemetery.  The  public  library  also  re- 
ceived his  financial  support.  In  his  relig- 
ious views  he  was  a  worthy  and  zealous 
member  of  the  Congregational  church,  the 
cause  of  Christianity  ever  finding  in  him  a 
warm  friend  and  active  worker. 

On  the  23d  of  June,  1833,  Mr.  Cooper 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Almeda,  a 
daughter  of  John  Murphy,  but  after  a  few 
years  of  happy  married  life  the  wife  was 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


called  to  the  home  beyond,  leaving  one  child, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  A.  F.  Seeberger,  of 
Chicago,  Illinois.  On  the  loth  of  March, 
184G,  Mr.  Cooper  was  a  second  time  mar- 
ried. Miss  Isabel  Weaver  becoming  his  wife. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Rog- 
ers) Weaver,  of  Mount  Vernon,  but  form- 
erly of  Connellsville,  Pennsylvania.  Unto 
this  union  were  born  the  following  children : 
Alice,  widow  of  the  late  Dr.  J.  W.  Stamp, 
of  Mount  Vernon,  and  they  had  two  chil- 
dren, Charles  Marcus  and  Jane;  Mae,  who 
married  Desault  B.  Kirk,  of  Mount  Vernon, 
whose  history  also  appears  in  this  work,  and 
her  death  occurred  on  the  30th  of  March, 
1887;  Adel,  who  married  X.  L.  Otis,  a  son 
of  Judge  L.  B.  Otis,  of  Chicago,  but  form- 
erly of  Fremont,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Louise;  Cora,  who  married  Gen- 
eral C.  C.  Howell,  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee, 
but  formerly  of  Colorado,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Helen  C.  and  Cornelia  C. 
Charles  F.,  the  only  son  of  the  family,  was 
born  in  Mount  Vernon,  in  1858,  and  his 
death  occurred  on  the  ist  of  September, 
1894,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  Oberlin  College,  and 
after  completing  his  studies  he  became  a. 
member  of  the  C.  &  G.  Cooper  Company. 
Outside  of  his  business  interests  his  chief 
pleasure  was  found  in  travel  and  study,  and 
he  thus  became  a  well  informed  man.  His 
friends  were  many  and  on  the  list  were  num- 
bered many  of  the  representative  men  of  the 
locality.  His  death  was  the  cause  of  wide- 
spread regret,  while  the  community  mourned 
the  loss  of  one  of  its  truest  and  best  citi- 
zens. He  married  Miss  Amelia  Sturges,  of 
Mount  Vernon,  a  daughter  of  F.  D.  Sturges, 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of  this 


city.  Their  union  was  blessed  with  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Charles,  who  was  named 
in  honor  of  his  father  and  grandfather ;  Isa- 
bel, Ethel,  James  Sturges  and  Eunice. 

Charles  Cooper's  life's  labors  were  ended 
in  death  on  the  7th  of  February,  1901,  pass- 
ing away  at  his  home  on  West  Sugar  street, 
having  reached  the  ninety-first  milestone  on 
the  journey  of  life.  His  path  was  ever  up- 
ward both  in  a  spiritual  and  temporal  sense. 
As  this  review  shows  he  was  distinctively  a 
self-made  man — one  of  nature's  noblemen 
whom  no  force  of  circumstances  could  pros- 
trate or  draw  into  obscurity.  He  indeed  de- 
serves mention  among  Ohio's  representative 
citizens,  and  should  find  a  place  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  men  of  business  and  enterprise 
whose  force  of  character,  sterling  integrity, 
control  of  circumstances  and  whose  marked 
success  in  establishing  great  industries  have 
contributed  in  such  an  eminent  degree  to  the 
solidity  and  progress  of  the  entire  country. 
His  life  was  manly,  his  actions  sincere,  his 
manner  unaffected  and  his  example  is  well 
worthy  of  emulation.  On  the  occasion  of 
Mr.  Cooper's  death  one  of  the  Mount  Ver- 
non papers  truthfully  said  of  him:  "Death 
ends  the  labors  of  man.  The  passing  of  Mr. 
Cooper  from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly  activ- 
ities and  usefulness  is  sincerely  mourned  by 
all  who  have  had  the  honor  of  a  personal  ac- 
quaintance with  Mount  Vemon's  'grand  old 
man,'  or  whoi  have  appreciated  the  extent 
and  unostentatiousness  of  his  benefactions  to 
the  community  and  to  individuals.  Nor  will 
the  magnificent  engine  works,  which  he  de- 
veloped through  sixty-seven  years  from  an 
insignificant  shop  be  his  most  enduring 
monument,  but  in  each  heart  that  has  felt  his 
benevolent  influence  will  be  reared  a  ceno- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


taph  that  shall  endure  forever.  His  career 
was  intensely  human,  and  an  the  book  of  life 
his  name  is  enrolled  as  one  who  loved  his 
fellow  men.    May  he  rest  in  peace." 


HENRY  B.  CURTIS. 

It  was  in  1885  that  Henry  B.  Curtis 
passed  from  this  life — full  of  years  and  of 
honors,  but  the  result  and  influence  of  his 
life  work  still  ling'ers.  There  has  been  no 
resident  of  Mount  Vernon  who  has  taken  a 
more  active  or  helpful  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare and  progress  of  the  city  and  for  years 
he  was  numbered  among-  its  distinguished 
lawyers  and  capitalists.  He  was  born  near 
the  village  of  Champlain,  New  York,  No- 
vember 28,  1799,  a  son  of  Zarah  and  Phal- 
ley  (Yale)  Curtis.  The  former  was  born 
in  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut,  in  1762, 
and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  loyally  fighting  for  independence.  His 
wife  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Aaron  and 
Anna  (Hosmer)  Yale  and  was  born  in 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1762.  They  were 
married  in  1785  and  removed  to  Charlotte, 
Vermoint,  where  some  of  their  daughters 
were  born,  while  Hosmer  Curtis,  an  older 
brother  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Litch- 
field, Connecticut.  His  death  occurred  in 
Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  1874,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eig'hty-five  years.  From  Charlotte,  Ver- 
mont, the  family  removed  to  a  farm  on  the 
west  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  near  the  vil- 
lage of  that  name,  where  they  resided  until 
1809.  when  they  went  to  Newark,  Licking 
county,  Ohio.  A  few  years  later  the  father 
purchased  a  farm  at  the  South  fork  of  the 
Licking  river,  where  the  family  were  living 


when  Henry  Barnes  Curtis  started  out  in 
life  on  his  own  account.  That  property  was 
afterward  sold  and  another  farm  purchased, 
on  which  the  father  died  in  1849,  i'^  ^^""^ 
eighty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  beloved  and 
respected  as  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church. 

'Henry  B.  Curtis  was  a  lad  of  only  nine 
years  when  he  came  to  Ohio.  At  that  time 
Newark  was  a  village  of  but  fifty  or  sixty 
rude  houses,  mostly  log  cabins.  The  oppor- 
tunities for  a  thorough  education  were  some- 
what limited,  yet  the  private  schools  of  Ros- 
well  Mills  and  Amos  H.  Coffee  gave  to  the 
diligent  and  faithful  students  facilities  for 
an  education,  not  only  in  the  common  school 
studies,  but  also  in  the  higher  English 
branches.  Under  these  faithful  teachers  and 
some  private  instructors  in  a  partial  classical 
course  Mr.  Curtis,  by  hard  study,  gained  a 
liberal  education.  During  the  whole  period 
he  assisted  his  father  in  the  farm  work  and 
even  after  leaving  home  he  continued  to  pay 
his  parents  all  his  wages  except  what  was 
necessary  for  his  expenses  until  he  was  twen- 
ty years  of  age.  When  a  youth  of  seven- 
teen he  left  the  farm  and  came  to  Mount 
Vernon,  where  his  brother,  Hosmer,  was 
then  practicing  law.  With  his  assistance  he 
obtained  a  position  in  the  clerks  office,  where 
his  assiduity  and  ready  skill  soon  secured 
him  the  appointment  of  deputy  clerk.  Tims 
he  became  acquainted  with  the  distinguished 
lawyers  of  that  day  and  won  their  friendship. 
Familiarized  with  courts  and  legal  forms 
of  proceedings  in  this  way,  he  was  naturally 
directed  to  the  law  as  a  life  work.  In  the 
fall  of  1820  he  became  a  law  student  in  his 
brother's  office  and  on  the  9th  of  December, 
1822,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  kindly  estimation 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


in  which  he  was  held  by  the  judges  of  the 
court,  after  he  had  retired  from  the  deputy 
clerkship  and  while  yet  a  student,  the  four 
judges  on  the  bench  appointed  him  recorder 
of  the  county,  a  position  which  he  filled  for 
seven  years.  This  advancement  in  the  out- 
set of  life  was  a  material  aid  to  him.  It 
gave  him  position  and  with  the  g'eneral  ac- 
quaintance he  had  previously  secured,  his 
familiarity  with  the  forms  of  legal  proceed- 
ings, a  well-read  knowledge  of  the  law  and  a 
diligent  application  to  the  study  of  his  cases 
and  preparation  of  his  briefs,  he  soon  fell 
into  a  large  and  profitable  practice.  When 
he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  law  there 
were  but  two  other  resident  lawyers  in  the 
county,  but  others  soon  came — men  of  abil- 
ity and  prominence — and  it  was  the  capable 
lawyer  that  held  a  foremost  position  at  the 
bar,  as  did  Mr.  Curtis.  In  the  earlier  years 
of  his  practice  his  professional  circuit  em- 
braced besides  Knox  the  counties  of  Licking, 
Richlamd,  Delaware  and  Coshocton,  with 
frequent  extension  in  special  cases  to  more 
remote  courts.  On  the  9th  of  January, 
1863,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the 
United  States  supreme  court  in  Washington 
and  at  different  times  his  practice  took  him 
to  this  court  as  well  as  to  the  supreme  court 
of  the  state  and  the  United  States  circuit 
and  district  courts.  In  December,  1872, 
he  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his 
admission  to  the  bar  by  giving  a  supper  at 
his  residence,  "Round  Hill,"  to  the  resident 
members  of  the  profession  and  many  old 
time  friends.  He  announced  on  that  occa- 
sion that  he  would  decline  all  new  retainers 
thereafter,  and  leave  the  field  to  his  younger 
brethren  and  thenceforward  he  would  try  to 
give  better  attention  to  his  private  business. 
Mr.  Curtis  never  deserted  his  profession  to 


seek  political  preferment.  In  view  of  the 
success  that  crowned  his  career  it  is  evident 
that  in  the  choice  of  his  profession  he  acted 
wisely. 

On  the  2d  of  July,  1823,  Mr.  Curtis  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Hogg,  daughter  of  Per- 
cival  and  Elizabeth  Hogg,  of  Monnt  Pleas- 
ant, Jefiferson  county,  Ohio<.  Her  family 
had  but  recently  arrived  in  this  country  from 
Durham,  England,  w-here  she  was  born^ 
June  22,  1863.  She  died  in  Mount  Vernon 
July  17,  1878.  They  had  six  daughters  and 
two  sons,  but  only  one  is  living,  Ella,  the 
wife  of  Joseph  C.  Devin,  a  lawyer  of  Mount 
Vernon,  who  at  one  time  was  state  senator 
from  Knox  county. 

In  politics  a  Republican,  Mr.  Curtis  was 
present  and  took  part  in  the  convention  in 
which  the  party  was  organized  in  Ohio.  Al- 
though he  believed  firmly  in  the  principles  of 
the  party  and  always  voted  therefor  he 
would  never  become  a  candidate  for  office, 
save  in  1840,  when  he  accepted  the  Whig 
nomination  for  congress  and  succeeded  in 
reducing  his  opponent's  previous  majority 
by  overdone  thousand.  Although  he  desired 
not  political  office  he  was  honored  with  many 
public  trusts.  He  represented  Knox  county 
in  the  state  board  of  equalization  in  the  win- 
ter of  1840-41,  a  body  legislative  in  form 
of  organization  and  in  which  many  vital  and 
important  question  in  regard  to  the  material 
interests  of  the  state  were  discussed  and  set- 
tled. For  twelve  years  preceding  the  disso- 
lution of  the  board  he  held  the  office  of  trus- 
tee of  the  Central  Lunatic  Asylum.  At  the 
time  of  the  transfer  of  its  powers  to  three 
commissioners  of  the  building,  and  for  soine 
time  previous,  he  was  acting  president  of  the 
board.  This  trust  involved  the  care  of  over 
five  hundred  insane,  the  administration  and 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


general  government  of  its  affairs,  and  after 
the  burning  of  the  old  buildings  the  carrj'- 
ing  forward  the  construction  of  the  immense 
new  edifice  for  the  institution. 

About  the  summer  of  1823  Bishop 
Chase  first  visited  Mount  Vernon  with  a 
view  of  finding  a  suitable  location  for  a  pro- 
posed institution,  now  known  as  Kenyon 
■College.  Tlirough  the  influence  of  Mr.  Cur- 
tis, a  tract  of  about  eight  thousand  acres 
was  purchased.  He  gave  all  the  aid  he 
•could  toward  b'lilding  up  and  advancing 
the  interests  of  the  school,  and  in  1881  he 
received  from  the  institution  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws.  He  served  for  a  long 
period  as  a  member  of  its  board  of  trustees 
and  in  1881  he  made  it  a  munificent  dona- 
tion, by  the  terms  of  which  he  established 
and  endowed  a  perpetual  and  growing  fund 
for  free  scholarships,  and  tO'  aid,  when 
needed,  deserving  students. 

When  Mr.  Curtis  became  a  member  of 
the  bar  the  court  docket  was  full  of  cases 
against  the  Owl  Creek  Bank,  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, or  rather  against  its  members,  for  it 
had  no  corporate  existence.  The  subject 
was  finally  referred,  after  many  judgments 
had  been  rendered  and  bills  filed,  to  a  special 
commissioner  and  receiver,  to  which  honora- 
ble position  Mr.  Curtis  was  appointed  by  the 
supreme  court.  After  years  of  investigation 
and  arduous  labor  the  intricate  affairs  of 
the  bank  were  brought  to  a  satisfactory  con- 
clusion. Every  dollar  of  outstanding  lia- 
bihty  was  paid  and  the  losses  adjusted  and 
equalized  among  the  several  members  of  the 
unfortunate  association.  Ion  acknowledged 
principles  of  equity  and  justice.  Mr.  Cur- 
tis' proceedings  and  their  results  were  fully 
approved  and  confirmed  by  the  court,  with 
flattering  commendations.     In  1848  he  or- 


ganized and  established  the  Knox  County 
Bank,  of  Mount  Vernon,  a  branch  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Ohio,  its  capital  stock  being 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  He  was  its 
president  during  its  existence,  nearly  twenty 
years,  and  for  about  the  same  period  was  an 
active  member  of  the  state  board  of  control. 
In  1865  he  organized  the  Knox  County  Na- 
tional Bank,  of  Mount  Vernon,  capitalized 
for  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
and  continued  as  its  president  until  his  death. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Curtis  was  ac- 
tive in  raising  volunteers  and  assisting  in 
forming  companies  and  regiments  that  were 
organized  in  the  county.  He  gave  pecuni- 
ary aid  freely  as  well  as  his  personal  influ- 
ence, and  often  presided  at  the  public  meet- 
ings called  forth  by  the  various  successes  or 
disasters  of  the  Union  forces.  Holding  at  the 
period  of  the  war  the  appointment  of  United 
States  commissioner  for  the  northern  dis- 
trict of  Ohio,  his  judicial  services  were  often 
required  in  disposing  of  cases  connected 
with  the  military  movements  and  restraining 
the  outbreaks  of  those  who,  sympathizing 
with  the  south,  would  sometimes  venture  to 
obstruct  the  operations  of  the  laws  for  rais- 
ing and  organizing  troops  for  the  public 
service. 

Mr.  Curtis  was  acti\-e  in  every  enterprise 
for  the  improvement  of  Knox  county  and  es- 
pecially of  Mount  Vernon.  He  drew  up  its 
charter,  secured  its  passage  through  the  leg- 
islature and  filled  its  various  municipal  of- 
fices, including  those  of  councilman  and 
mayor.  His  taste  and  study  of  architecture 
enabled  him  to  give  shape  to  many  oi  the 
public  buildings,  and  especially  to  two  suc- 
cessive court  houses,  and  to  encourage  a  more 
tasteful  style  of  private  residences.  Dur- 
ing his  life  he  constructed  many  new  houses. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


now  among  the  most  ornamental  and  pleas- 
ant residences  of  the  city.  He  was  active 
in  forwarding  every  railroad  enterprise  of 
his  city  and  was  a  director  of  the  first  rail- 
road that  entered  the  city.  He  was  a  direc- 
tor in  the  Lake  Erie  division  of  the  Balti- 
more &  Ohio  Railroad  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

In  the  spring  of  1873  he  was  appointed 
by  President  Grant  a  member  of  the  board 
of  visitors  at  West  Point.  The  board  held 
daily  sessions  from  the  28th  of  May  until 
the  1 2th  of  June.  While  in  this  service  Mr. 
Curtis  learned  that  some  eighty  children  of 
professors,  Oifficers  and  employes  at  West 
Point  were  destitute  of  the  usual  means  o-f 
common  school  education,  except  as  a  few 
had  the  advantage  of  private  instruction. 
Being  on  a  military  reserve  the  jurisdiction 
of  which  belonged  to  the  United  States,  it 
was  held  that  the  residents  were  not  included 
within  the  provisions  for  the  benefits  of  the 
common  school  system  of  the  state.  He 
therefore  introduced  and  advocated  a  reso- 
lution in  the  board  recommending  congress 
to  make  provision  for  this  want  by  a  suitable 
appropriation  for  maintaining  at  the  Point 
a  common  school  for  the  benefit  o-f  the  chil- 
dren. The  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted  and  incorporated  in  the  report. 

Mr.  Curtis  was  a  man  of  pronounced 
views,  possessed  of  social  and  genial  quali- 
ties and  ever  accessible  to  the  poorest  mem- 
ber of  the  community.  His  beautiful  home, 
Round  Hill,  was  the  seat  of  elegant  refine- 
ment and  hospitality.  The  habit  of  self- 
control  and  the  genial  disposition  which  he 
ever  cultivated  made  his  life  a  serene  and 
happy  one.  Naturally  of  quick  and  warm 
impulses,  he  has  clearly  demonstrated  that 
"he  who  governs  himself  is  better  than  he 


who  takes  a  city."  He  reached  the  age  of 
eighty-five,  a  venerable  man,  honored  and 
respected,  for  his  had  been  an  unblemished 
character. 


W.  ROSCOE  AND  CLARENA  BLAIR.. 

W.  Roscoe  Blair  and  his  sister,  Clar- 
ena,  occupy  one  of  the  fine  country  resi- 
dences of  Middlebury  township.  It  is 
a  very  attractive  residence,  standing  in 
the  midst  of  an  excellent  farm  and  the 
interior  indicates  the  skill  and  systematic 
neatness  of  the  sister,  while  the  fields 
of  waving  grain  tell  to  the  passer  by  the 
story  of  the  brother's  thrift  and  capabilities 
as  a  farmer. 

Mr.  Blair  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives  August  29,  1858.  The  family 
is  of  Scotch  lineage  and  was  founded  in 
America  at  an  early  day.  The  grandfather, 
William  Blair,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  became  one  of  the  earliest  settlers, 
of  Morrow  county,  his  eldest  son,  John,  be- 
ing the  first  white  child  born  in  or  near  Wat- 
erford.  Morrow  county.  His  wife,  Mary,, 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  in  the  midst 
of  the  wilderness  of  the  west  they  estab- 
lished a  good  home  and  reared  their  family. 
William  Blair,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  subject,, 
was  born  and  reared  in  Morrow  county  and 
after  arriving  at  years  of  maturity  married 
Miss  Sarah  Stackhouse,  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  state,  where  heir  girlhood  days 
were  passed.  Her  father,  Benjamin,  was 
also  born  there.  Aboiit  1857  William  and 
Sarah  Blair  came  to  Knox  county,  locating 
on  the  farm  where  their  son  and  daughter 
now  reside,  and  there  the  father  died  in 
1883,  when  sixty-six  years  of  age,  his  birth 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


having  occurred  in  1817.  His  wife,  who 
was  born  in  1820,  passed  away  in  1893. 
They  were  consistent  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  took  an  active  part  in  its 
work,  while  in  his  pohtical  affiliations  Mr. 
Blair  was  a  Republican.  Their  many  sterl- 
ing traits  of  character  won  for  them  the 
warm  regard  of  friends  and  neighbors.  They 
had  five  children,  four  sons  and  a  daughter, 
but  two  of  the  sons  died  in  infancy.  W. 
Roscoe  is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  Orrin 
Blair,  the  surviving  brother,  is  a  mechanic 
in  Chicago,  Illinois. 

W.  Roscoe  Blair  resides  with  his  sister, 
Clarena,  upon  the  old  family  homestead, 
where  they  were  reared  and  in  the  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  they  were  educated,  the 
brother  also  pursuing  his  studies  for  a 
time  in  Butler  University,  at  Irvington,  a 
suburb  of  Indianapolis,  and  to  some  extent 
engaged  in  teaching  school.  He  has  since 
since  been  engaged  in  general  farming,  cul- 
tivating twoi  valuable  tracts  of  land,  the  old 
homestead  of  one,  hundred  and  thirty  acres 
in  Aliddlebury  township  and  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Franklin  town- 
ship. Morrow  county,  which  was  the  family 
home  when  the  Blairs  resided  in  the  latter 
county.  Each  of  the  farms  have  a  valuable 
sugar  maple  orchard,  from  which  Mr.  Blair 
annually  produces  several  hundred  pounds  of 
the  choicest  grade  of  syrup  and  cake 
sugar.  His  farming  is  of  a  general  char- 
acter, though  special  attention  is  given 
to  the  growing  and  feeding  of  stock, 
of  which  he  keeps  a  full  supply  of 
high  grade  animals.  He  is  energetic,  prac- 
tical and  progressive  in  his  fanning  meth- 
ods and  his  labors  bring  to  him  handsome 
returns.  In  1892  he  erected  a  modern  res- 
idence at  a  cost  of  two  thousand  dollars.    It 


is  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes  of  this 
part  of  the  county  and  is  tastefully  furnished 
and  \\ell-impro'ved  with  modern  conveni- 
ences, J\Ir.  Blair  is  unswendng  in  his  advo- 
cacy of  its  principles  of  the  Republican  party 
but  does  not  seek  office,  preferring  to  gi\-e 
his  undivided  attention  to  his  farm.  Both 
are  active  and  influential  members  of  the 
Christian  church  and  for  years  both  have 
taught  classes  in  the  Sunday-school.  Ever 
living  in  closest  filial  relation,  neither  has 
yielded  to  the  attentions  of  others,  being 
content  to  retain  the  unadulterated  respect  of 
a  wide  circle  of  stanch  friends,  than  whom 
no  citizens  have  more. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  COVER. 

On  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fif- 
teen acres  in  Middlebury  township,  William 
H.  Cover  resides.  He  is  accounted  one  of 
the  leading  agriculturists  of  Knox  county 
and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  was  exten- 
sively and  successfully  engaged  in  stock 
raising,  feeding  and  shipping.  He  was  born 
in  Perry  township,  Richland  county.  Janu- 
ary 15,  1841,  and  is  of  German  lineage,  the 
family  having  been  founded  in  America  by 
two  brothers  John  and  Jacob  Cover.  The 
latter  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  while  the 
former,  who  was  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  took  up  his  abode  in  Frederick  coun- 
ty, Maryland. 

It  was  there  that  Daniel  Cover,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born,  on  the  15th  of 
January,  1802.  He  grew  to  manhood  there 
and  there  wedded  Miss  Lydia  Stephenson, 
also  a  native  of  Frederick  county,  and  of 
English  parentage,   who,   upon  coming  to 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


23 


America,  settled  in  IMaryland.  Her  father 
was  a  slaveholder,  but  at  death  liberated  all 
of  his  slaves.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  church.  Airs. 
Cover  was  educated  in  a  Catholic  convent, 
where  she  acquired  a  superior  education,  and 
was  a  lady  of  culture  and  vmusual  intelli- 
gence. About  1820  Rev.  Daniel  Cover 
brought  his  family  to  Ohio,  which  was 
then  just  emerging  from  conditions  of 
a  wilderness  of  streams  and  forest.  He 
secured  land  in  Perry  township,  Rich- 
land county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
throughout  his  remaining  days,  his  death 
occurring  when  he  was  fifty-five  years 
of  age.  He  was  a  minister  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
arduous  duties  of  the  farm  found  time 
to  devote  to  the  cause  of  the  church,  preach- 
ing in-  log  school  houses  and  churches 
throughout  northwest  Ohio,  thus  spreading 
the  gospel  among  the  pioneer  settlers.  His 
influence  was  widely  felt,  the  world  being 
made  better  by  his  having  lived.  His  wife, 
a  most  estimable  lady,  long  survived  her  hus- 
band, dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  Of 
their  ten  children,  all  were  married  and  five 
are  still  living,  namely:  Upton  A.,  of  Fred- 
ericktown;  William  H. ;  John  W. ;  Perry  D., 
of  Riverside,  California;  and  Mary,  the  wife 
of  George  Biddle,  of  Morrow  county,  Ohio'. 
Those  who  have  passed  away  are :  Jason  J., 
who  was  a  merchant  of  Johnsville,  Ohio; 
Josiah,  who  had  extensive  vineyards  in  Cal- 
ifornia, but  lived  retired  in  his  later  years; 
Thomas  W.,  who  was  a  prosperous,  popular 
and  widely-known  citizen  of  California  and 
who  was  probably  lost  in  the  great  American 
desert  in  that  state;  Martha  and  Eliza  Jane. 
Like  the  other  members  of  the  family 
William  H.  Cover  was  reared  upon  his  fa- 


ther's farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Perry  town- 
ship, Richland  county,  Ohio,  early  became 
familiar  with  the  work  of  the  fields;  and  be- 
tween the  ages  of  fifteen  and  twenty-five 
3ears  managed  the  farm  and  its  cultivation. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company 
B,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-third  Ohio  In- 
fantry, and  served  four  months. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1S65,  Mr. 
Cover  was  united  in  marriage  toi  Miss  Mary 
E.  Coursen,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson 
township,  Richland  county,  and  was  the  only 
daughter  O'f  William  and  Matilda  (Walters) 
Coursen.  Her  father  was  born  in  Genesee 
county,  New  York,  and  became  a  prominent 
pioneer  farmer  and  stock  dealer  of  Richland 
county,  Ohio.  He  went  to  that  county  when 
fourteen  years  of  age  and  located  on  Clear 
Fork,  in  Jefferson  township,  where  he  won 
a  place  among  the  leading  and  influential 
citizens  of  the  community.  He  died  in 
1897,  ^t  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  and 
his  wife  passed  away  in  March,  1901,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  two  sons,  and  Mrs.  Cover  was  their 
only  daughter. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Cover  remained  in  Richland  county  and  in 
1867  came  to  Knox  county,  settling  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives.  He  made  most 
of  the  improvements  upon  the  place  and  was 
the  first  man  to  engage  in  breeding  and  deal- 
ing in  draft  horses  and  sheep,  a  business  in 
which  he  has  retained  an  interest  to  the 
present,  upward  of  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
His  farm  contains  two  hundred  and  fifteen 
acres  of  valuable  land,  and  he  owns  also  a 
tract  of  sixty  acres  in  Richland  county  and 
is  interested  financially  in  a  farm  in  Mor- 
row county. 

In  1 90 1  Mr.  Cover  was  called  upon  to 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the 
30th  of  April  of  that  year.  They  were  then 
living  in  Bellville,  whither  they  had  gone 
that  she  might  care  for  her  aged  mother, 
who  passed  away  on  the  30th  of  March, 
1901,  only  a  month  before  her  daughter's 
death.  Mrs.  Cover  was  a  most  devoted  wife 
and  was  a  faithful  working  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  taking  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  its  various  departments. 
Her  youth  was  passed  in  luxury',  her  father 
having  been  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of 
his  community.  She  took  a  keen  interest 
in  all  business  in  which  her  husband  en- 
gaged, her  practical  common  sense  being  a 
desirable  balance  wheel  to  his  more  venture- 
some spirit.  She  delighted  in  fine  stock,  be- 
ing an  excellent  judge  of  their  good  points 
and  took  keen  enjoyment  in  driving  behind 
a  spirited  team.  Ever  actuated  by  the  most 
exalted  ideas  of  a  true  Christian  life,  she 
was  alert  to  the  distress  of  those  less  fav- 
ored, her  constant  acts  of  kindness  and  un- 
ostentatious charity  winning  the  warmest 
affection  of  all  with  whom  she  was  brought 
in  contact.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cover  having  no 
children  of  their  own  they  reared  an  adopted 
daughter,  Ola  May  Williams,  who  came  to 
them  when  but  four  years  old.  She  is  now 
the  wife  of  Jay  Stillwell  and  has  three  chil- 
dren, Cover,  Mary  E.  and  Silvie. 

The  intimacy  existing  between  her  and 
her  foster  parents  has  been  of  the  closest 
and  most  sympathetic  character,  a  mutual 
appreciation  being  manifest  upon  all  occa- 
sions. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Cover  is  a 
stanch  Republican  and  has  served  as  town- 
ship trustee.  His  life  has  been  a  busy  and 
useful  one  and  through  his  own  efforts  he 


has  gained  prosperity,  placing  his  depend- 
ence on  the  substantial  qualities  of  industry,, 
perseverance  and  honorable  dealing. 


DAVID  WILLITS. 


Death  often  removes  from  our  midst 
those  whom  we  can  ill  afford  to  lose,  but  the 
regret  is  not  without  some  softening  influ- 
ence when  the  life  that  is  ended  has  been  an 
honorable  one,  leaving  behind  it  a  memory 
of  much  that  was  true,  noble  and  commenda- 
ble. Such  was  the  career  of  David  Willits, 
whose  business  career  was  crowned  with 
success  and  whose  genuine  worth  gained  for 
him  the  unqualified  regard  of  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  was  born  in 
Knox  county  and  when  a  boy  was  left  an 
orphan,  after  which  he  was  reared  by  his 
uncle,  Eli  Willits.  The  success  he  gained 
was  the  outcome  of  his  own  industry  and 
business  management.  He  pursued  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  near  his  home 
and  afterward  continued  his  studies  in  Del- 
aware College.  Later  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing in  Butler  township  and  was  ever  a  warm 
friend  of  education,  realizing  how  import- 
ant is  broad  mental  training  in  the  active 
and  practical  affairs  of  life. 

In  the  house  where  his  widow  is  now  liv- 
ing Mr.  Willits  was  married,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Lucy  M.  Markley,  who  was 
bom  in  a  log  cabin  upon  her  present  farm 
November  6,  1827.  Her  father,  Henry 
Markley,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
his  father  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  Knox  county,  where  he  owned  many  acres 
of  land  in  Berlin  township,  entering  much  of 
this  from  the  government.     He  gave  farms 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


to  all  of  his  children  and  performed  an  im- 
portant part  in  the  early  development  of  the 
county  and  in  laying  broad  and  deep  the 
foundation  for  its  present  prosperity  and 
progress.  His  son,  Henry  Markley,  was  a 
young  man  when  he  came  from  the  Key- 
stone state  to  Ohio,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
wilderness  cleared  and  improved  the  farm 
which  is  nO'W  occupied  by  Mrs.  Willits. 
There  he  kept  bachelor's  hall  until  his  mar- 
riage, to  Miss  Sally  Norton,  who  was  born 
in  Connecticut  and  in  early  girlhood  came 
with  her  parents  to  Ohio.  After  long  iden- 
tification with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
Knox  county,  Mr.  Markley  was  called  to 
his  final  rest,  passing  away  when  about  six- 
ty-three years  of  age.  His  wife,  surviving 
him  some  time,  was  more  than  seventy  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death.  They  had 
two  daughters,  but  Cordelia,  the  elder,  is 
now  deceased,  so  that  Mrs.  Willits  is  now 
the  only  member  of  the  family  in  the  county. 
She  was  reared  in  Berlin  township  and  gave 
her  hand  in  marriage  first  to  James  Hender- 
son, becoming  the  wife  of  Mr.  Willits  after 
the  death  of  her  first  husband.  Throughout 
her  entire  life  she  has  lived  upon  one  farm 
with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in 
Fredericktown.  She  still  owns  the  old 
homestead,  comprising  ninety-two  acres 
which,  under  a  system  of  cultivation,  has 
been  made  a  very  valuable  property. 

Mr.  Willits  was  also  twice  married.  He 
first  wedded  Martha  Jane  Dennis,  and  unto 
them^  were  born  two  children :  Harriet  EI- 
ma,  the  wife  of  George  Foote,  by  whom  she 
has  five  children^ — Herbert,  Lucy,  Anna,  Da- 
vid and  Wilber;  and  Walter  W.,  who  mar- 
ried Flora  Algire.  They  also  have  five  chil- 
dren— Bernard,  Ray,  Willie,  Earl  and  Ho- 
bart. 

2 


Throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
Mr.  Willits  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
and  his  industry  and  capable  management 
resulted  in  the  production  of  good  crops.  In 
politics  he  was  a  stanch  Republican,  voting 
for  Lincoln  in  i860  and  1864,  and  for  every 
candidate  of  the  party  since  that  time.  He 
was  serving  as  township  appraiser  at  the 
time  of  his  death  and  previously  he  had 
served  as  township  trustee,  was  twice  as- 
sessor and  filled  other  local  positions  in  a 
prompt  and  faithful  manner.  He  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Presbyterian  church  and 
served  as  one  of  its  deacons,  and  his  Chris- 
tian faith  permeated  his  entire  life.  He 
died  February  18,  1900,  in  his  sixty-seventh 
year,  leaving  behind  him  the  priceless  herit-^ 
age  of  an  untarnished  name,  which  is  rather 
to  be  chosen  than  great  riches.  His  widow 
still  resides  upon  the  farm  where  she  was 
born.  Having  always  lived  in  Knox  county 
she  is  widely  known.  She  is  one  of  the  oldest 
residents  of  the  township  in  years  of  continu- 
ous connection  therewith  and  has  witnessed 
much  of  the  growth  and  development  which 
has  wrought  such  a  wonderful  transforma- 
tion in  the  county.  She  has  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  in  the  annals  of  her  native  local- 
ity well  deserves  mention. 


WILLIAM  L.  SCHROEDER. 

Horticultural  pursuits  are  successfully 
followed  in  central  Ohio,  excellent  peach 
and  apple  orchards  showing  how  well 
adapted  is  soil  and  climate  to  the  production 
of  these  as  well  as  other  fruits.  Among 
those  who  are  now  devoting  their  energies  to 
the  raisins:  of  fruit  as  well  as  the  cultivation 


26 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


of  grain  in  Knox  county  is  William  L. 
Schroeder,  who  resides  in  Middlebury  tOAvn- 
ship.  Year  by  year  he  is  adding  to  his  cap- 
ital as  the  result  of  his  diligence  and  business 
ability,  and  well  deserves  mention  among 
the  self-made  men  of  the  locality. 

Mr.  Schroeder  is  a  native  son  of  Knox 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Fredericktown  August  31,  1846. 
His  father,  Israel  Scliroeder,  was  a  native  of 
York  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  when  a 
young  man  he  left  the  Keystone  state  for 
Ohio,  where  he  met  and  married  Susan 
Wagner,  a  sister  of  Henry  Wagner,  an  en- 
ierprising  farmer  of  this  community.  She 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  lived  to  be 
thirty-five  years  of  age,  dying  when  Will- 
iam was  a  child  of  eighteen  months.  After 
iher  death  the  father  wedded  Nellie  Mc- 
Millen.  He  was  a  chair-maker  by  trade  and 
carried  on  that  business  for  a  number  of 
years  in  Fredericktown,  but  after  his  sec- 
ond marriage  he  located  on  a  small  farm  in 
Middlebury  township.  His  last  days,  how- 
'Cver,  were  passed  in  Richland  county,  where 
lie  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Disciples  church  and  took 
an  active  part  in  church  work,  doing  all  in 
liis  power  to  extend  the  influence  of  the 
cause.  He  voted  with  the  Danocracy  and 
his  career  was  one  of  the  highest  respectabil- 
ity. In  his  family  were  three  sons  and  four 
■daughters,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy, 
-while  four  are  still  living,  namely :  Daniel, 
Wadey,  Charlotte  and  William  L. 

The  last  named  is  the  yotmgest  of  the 
living  children  and  was  only  eighteen 
months  old  when  his  mother  died.  He  then 
went  to  live  with  his  uncle,  Henry  Wagner, 
■with  whom  he  remained  until  twenty-two 
years'   of    age.      He    attended    the   district 


schools,  thereby  acquiring  knowledge  that 
fitted  him  for  the  practical  and  responsible 
duties  of  life  and  his  practical  training  at 
farm  work  well  qualified  him  for  carrying 
on  agricutural  pursuits  when  he  started  out 
upon  an  independent  career.  When  attend- 
ing schools  among  the  students  in  the  same 
district  was  a  little  girl  named  Louisa  Al- 
verson.  The  acquaintance  of  their  child- 
hood was  continued  after  they  put  aside 
their  text-books  and  eventually  ripened  into 
love,  which  was  consummated  by  their  mar- 
riage March  30,  1869.  The  lady  is  a  native 
of  Middlebury  township  and  a  daughter  of 
Tliomas  and  Lucinda  Alverson.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Vermont,  but  was  reared  in 
Essex  county.  New  York,  and  came  to 
Knox  coimty  in  an  early  day. 

They  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a 
rented  farm  in  Middlebury  township,  where 
they  remained  for  seventeen  years,  on  the 
expiration  of  which  period  Mr.  Schroeder 
purchased  his  present  place,  on  which  he  has 
since  resided.  He  has  made  most  of  the  im- 
provements thereon,  cleared  most  of  the 
land  and  has  transformed  it  into  a  very  val- 
uable property.  He  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing but  makes  a  specialty  of  horticultural 
pursuits  and  has  upon  his  farm  about  four- 
teen hundred  peach  trees,  which  in  1901 
bore  a  crop  estimated  at  two  thousand  bush- 
els, while  other  fruit  trees  produced  pro- 
portionately. His  is  one  of  the  leading  fruit 
farms  of  this  part  of  the  state.  He  has 
made  a  close  study  of  the  best  methods  of 
cultivating  fruit,  and  his  knowledge,  put  to 
the  practical  test  in  his  care  of  his  orchards 
has  resulted  in  making  this  branch  of  his 
business  quite  profitable. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schroeder  were  born 
five  children :    Cora,  the  wife  of  Louis  Vale, 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


by  whom  she  has  five  children — Bert,  Jesse, 
Samuel,  Evis  and  Nellie;  Charles  William, 
who  married  Sadie  Rowley;  George,  de- 
ceased; Glenn  Thomas,  who  wedded  Mattie 
Vance;  and  Mary  Lucinda,  who^  is  at  home 
with  her  parents  upon  the  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres,  which  has  for  a  number  of  years 
been  the  property  of  Mr.  Schroeder.  He 
votes  with  the  Republican  party  and  never 
has  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to  its  princi- 
ples and  platform.  For  three  years  he 
served  as  township  trustee  and  for  the  long 
period  of  twenty-eight  years  was  road  su- 
pervisor. He  has  always  held  some  local 
office  in  the  township,  for  his  fellow  towns- 
men, recognizing  his  ability  and  fidelity, 
continually  keep  him  in  a  place  of  public 
trust.  He  belongs  to  the  Waterford  Grange 
at  Batemantown  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Such  in  brief 
is  the  history  of  one  who  throughout  his 
entire  career  has  been  an  active,  energetic 
business  man,  a  trusted  public  servant  and 
a  faithful  friend — worthy  of  the  regard  of 
his  associates. 


ROBERT  C.  KIRK. 

An  enumeration  of  the  men  of  Ohio  who 
have  won  honor  and  public  recognition  for 
themselves  and  at  the  same  time  have  hon- 
ored the  state  to  which  they  belong  would  be 
incomplete  were  there  failure  to  make  prom- 
inent reference  to  the  Hon.  Robert  Crothers 
Kirk.  He  held  distinctive  precedence  in 
Republican  circles  and  became  a  co-worker 
and  counsellor  of  some  of  the  most  distin- 
guished representatives  of  the  party  in  the 
nation.  He  held  positions  of  prominence,  in 
all  of  which  his  course  was  characterized  by 


a  masterful  understanding  of  the  problems 
presented  and  by  a  patriotic  devotion  to 
those  measures  which  he  believed  conducive 
to  the  public  good.  His  public  career  cov- 
ered a  long  period  and  he  was  ever  fearless 
in  conduct,  faultless  in  honor  and  stainless 
in  reputation. 

Mr.  Kirk  was  numbered  among  Olrio's 
native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Mount  Pleasant,  Jefferson  county,  on  the 
26th  of  February,  1S21.  His  father,  Eli 
Kirk,  was  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  like  many  residents  of 
that  state  was  connected  with  the  Society  of 
Friends.  His  business  was  that  of  farming, 
and  he  died  in  1838.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Martha  Crothers,  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and 
a  native  of  Washington  county,  where  her 
people  had  located  in  pioneer  days,  her  fam- 
ily being  one  of  prominence  there. 

In  the  common  schools  Robert  C.  Kirk 
began  his  education,  which  was  continued  in 
the  Ohio  University,  at  Athens.  Later  he 
took  up  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr. 
William  Hamilton,  of  Mount  Pleasant,  and 
subsequently  entered  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Phil- 
adelphia, completing  the  course  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years.  Locating  in  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  he  practiced  there  for  a  short  time, 
but  in  1843  returned  to  Ohio  and  abandoned 
the  profession.  In  1844  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  T.  W.  Rogers  and  engaged 
in  the  dry  goods  business  in  Mount  Vernon, 
the  relation  being  maintained  until  Mr.  Rog- 
ers' death,  when  Mr.  Kirk  formed  a  part- 
nership with  his  father-in-law,  John  Hogg, 
thus  carrying  on  business  until  1853,  when 
they  sold  out.  In  1857  Mr.  Kirk  went  to 
Winona,  Minnesota,  where  he  followed  the 


28 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


real-estate  business  in  partnership  with  his 
brother,  Timothy  Kirk,  but  after  a  year  he 
once  more  came  back  to^  his  native  state  and 
continuously  resided  in  Mount  Vernon,  ex- 
cepting only  the  period  when  he  was  abroad 
as  the  representative  of  the  government, 
from  1858  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
189S,  when  he  was  seventy-seven  years  of 
age. 

Mr.  Kirk's  political  career  was  one  of 
unqualified  honor  because  of  his  marked  fi- 
delity to  duty  and  the  important  work  which 
he  accomplished  for  the  nation.  In  1856  he 
was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  the 
Ohio  state  senate,  where  he  served  for  one 
term.  In  1859  he  was  elected  lieutenant 
governor  with  William  Dennison  at  the  head 
of  the  ticket,  and  in  1862  he  was  appointed 
by  President  Lincoln  minister  to  the  Argen- 
tine Republic,  Paraguay  and  Uruguay.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  at  Buenos  Ayres  he  suc- 
cessfully collected  the  old  claims,  dating 
from  1 8 14,  due  to  American  citizens  and 
amounting  to  over  four  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  claims  which  former  ministers  had 
abandoned.  He  was  alsO'  instrumental  in 
having  over  nineteen  thousand  dollars  raised 
in  Buenos  Ayres  and  sent  to  Mr.  BelloAvs, 
president  of  the  sanitary  commission  for 
the  benefit  of  Union  soldiers.  In  1866  he 
resigned  and  returned  to  Ohio,  but  in  1869 
he  was  reappointed  by  President  Grant,  as 
minister  to  the  Argentine  Republic  and  filled 
the  position  until  1871,  when  he  once  more 
resigned.  His  course  awakened  greater 
honor  and  respect  for  his  country  than  had 
ever  been  felt  in  that  part  of  South  America, 
for  he  fully  sustained  the  dignity  of  his  na- 
tive land  while  at  the  same  time  promoting 
its  interests  in  every  way  possible.  His  di- 
plomacy, his  thorough  understanding  of  the 


questions  affecting  the  relation  of  the  two 
governments,  his  tactful  skill  in  handling 
foreign  relations  all  won  for  him  the  favora- 
ble comment  of  the  South  American  nation 
as  well  as  of  his  own  countrymen  and  re- 
flected-credit  upon  the  land  which  he  rep- 
resented. On  the  5th  of  February,  1871, 
Mr.  Kirk  was  appointed  by  President  Grant 
■collector  of  internal  revenue  for  the  thir- 
teenth district  of  Ohio-  and  thus  served  until 
the  office  was  abolished  by  consolidation 
with  the  district  of  Columbus.  Mr.  Kirk 
then  lived  in  retirement  until  his  death,  su- 
perintending his  property  interests. 

In  Mount  Pleasant,  Ohio,  Mr.  Kirk  was 
married  to  Eleanor  Hogg,  daughter  of  John 
Hogg,  of  that  city.  Her  father  was  a  very 
successful  merchant  and  business  man  and 
in  many  towns  made  judicious  and  profitable 
investments  in  real  estate  so  that  he  accu- 
mulated a  large  fortune.  He  was  born  on 
Chesterly  street,  near  Newcastle  on  the 
Tyne,  England.  He  had  six  sisters :  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Curtis,  wife  of  Henry  B.  Curtis; 
Mrs.  Timothy  Rogers;  Mrs.  Updegraff; 
Mrs,  Susan  Rogers;  Mrs.  Margaret  Sher- 
man, the  wife  of  John  Shennan,  of 
Mount  Vernon;  and  Mrs.  Isabel  Mo- 
zier,  the  wife  of  the  celebrated  Amer- 
ican sculptor.  William  Hogg,  an  uncle 
of  John  Hogg,  sold  to  Gambler  Col- 
lege eight  thousand  acres  of  land  for  twen- 
ty-four thousand  dollars  and  gave  to^  the 
college  six  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kirk  were  the  jiarents  of  four  sons,  John  E. 
(deceased),  Desault  B. ;  William  H.  and 
Gersham  P.,  twins,  the  former  now  deceased. 
When  very  young  John  E.  joined  the  Nine- 
ty-sixth Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  and  served 
with  great  gallantry  throughout  the  war  and 
was  mustered  out  as  a  second  lieutenant. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


He  is  now  deceased.  The  second  marriage 
of  ]\Ir.  Kirk  occurred  August  31,  1893,  when 
Miss  Ahce  V.  Hutchinson  became  his  wife. 
In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Kirk  was  a 
Mason  and  attained  the  Knight  Templar 
degree  in  that  fraternity.  He  was  also  iden- 
tified with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  held  membership  in  the  Epis- 
copal church.  He  recognized  his  obliga- 
tions to  his  fellow  men  and  met  them.  His 
strong  mentality  gave  him  a  clear  conception 
of  his  duty  in  every  relation  of  life,  and  it 
\vas  faithfully  discharged.  Men  of  learning, 
including  those  who  guided  the  ship  of  state, 
recognized  his  ability,  his  value  and  his  pa- 
triotism and  honored  and  trusted  him  ac- 
cordingly and  thus  he  left  the  impress  of  his 
individuality  upon  the  welfare  of  state  and 
nation. 


DESAULT  B.  KIRK. 

With  the  business,  professional  and  in- 
tellectual activities  which  push  forward  the 
wheels  of  progress  in  Mount  Vernon  and 
Knox  county  Desault  B.  Kirk  is  connected, 
and  while  his  efiforts  have  contributed  to 
his  own  prosperity  they  have  also  been  of 
such  a  nature  as  to  further  advance  the  gen- 
eral welfare.  Throughout  almost  his  entire 
life  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Mount  Vernon, 
which  is  his  native  city.  He  is  a  graduate 
of  Kenyon  College,  and  after  completing 
his  literary  course  he  took  up  the  study  of 
law  in  the  Harvard  Law  School,  being  thus 
prepared  for  active  work  at  the  bar.  He 
chose  a  profession  in  which,  his  father's 
prominence  and  position  would  avail  him 
naught,  for  in  no  calling  does  advancement 
depend  so  largely  upon  individual  effort  and 


merit  as  in  the  field  of  jurisprudence.  He 
completed  his  law  studies  with  the  firm  of 
Scribner  &  Hurd,  of  Toledo,  and  for  a  short 
time  was  in  partnership  with  them.  He  also 
entered  into  partnership  with  A.  R.  Mcln- 
tire,  and  with  the  passing  years  his  experi- 
ence in  legal  work  secured  him  a  creditable 
position  as  a  practitioner.  He  next  became 
interested  in  the  firm  of  C.  &  G.  Cooper  & 
Company  and  upon  the  organization  of  the 
C.  &  G.  Cooper  Company  he  became  treas- 
urer and  has  since  served  in  that  capacity. 
He  is  also  one  of  its  directors,  but  his  busi- 
ness relations  do  not  end  here  for  he  is  the 
vice-president  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Gas 
Company  and  vice-president  and  trustee  of 
the  Knox  National  Bank. 

Mr.  Kirk  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mae  Cooper,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Cooper, 
and  unto  them  have  been  born  the  following 
children :  Isabel  Cooper,  the  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Ames,  a,  grandson  of  Columbus  De- 
lano; Eleanor  Hogg,  wife  of  Professor  I. 
Griffith  Ames,  professor  of  English  in  the 
Illinois  College,  of  Jacksonville,  that  state, 
and  also  a  grandson  of  Columbus  Delano; 
Robert  C,  now  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  who  is 
a  graduate  of  Kenyon  Preparatory  School 
and  Military  Academy ;  and  Charles  Cooper, 
a  student  in  Shattuck  School.  The  mother 
died  in  1887. 

Mr.  Kirk  is  a  trustee  of  Kenyon  College 
and  since  its  organization  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  public  library  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, whose  interests  have  been  greatly  pro- 
moted through  his  efiforts.  He  is  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  all  measures  and 
movements  tending  to  promote  the  general 
progress  and  his  native  city  finds  him  one 
of  its  most  helpful  sons.  He  is  identified 
with  the  vario'US  bodies  of  Masonrv,   also 


30 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and 
belongs  to  the  Episcopalian  church,  in  which 
he  is  the  senior  warden  and  vestryman.  De- 
pending not  upon  the  prestige  which  his 
fathers  name  and  position  would  have  given 
him  Desault  B.  Kirk  has  relied  upon  the 
more  substantial  qualities  of  earnest  pur- 
pose, untiring  effort  and  careful  preparation 
for  his  life  work  and  has  accomplished 
much  in  the  business  world. 


FRED  D.  SIMONS. 


Fred  D.  Simons  is  one  of  the  most  ac- 
tive, enterprising  and  prosperous  business 
men  of  Knox  county.  Success  comes  not  to 
the  man  who  idly  waits,  but  to  the  faithful 
toiler  whose  work  is  characterized  by  intelli- 
gence and  force;  it  comes  only  to  the  man 
who  has  the  foresight  and  keenness  of  men- 
tal vision  to  know  when  and  how  and  where 
to  exert  his  energies,  and  thus  it  happens 
that  but  a  small  proportion  of  those  who 
enter  the  "world's  broad  field  of  battle" 
come  off  victors  in  the  struggle  for  wealth 
and  position,  but  with  marked  ability  to  im- 
prove his  opportunities  Mr.  Simons  has 
steadily  advanced  to  a  foremost  position 
among  substantial  citizens  in  his  part  of  the 
county. 

He  was  born  in  Fredericktown  February 
8,  i860,  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  fam- 
ilies of  the  state.  His  father, '  Monroe  J. 
Simons,  was  a  native  of  Homer,  Licking 
county,  Ohio'.  born  July  6,  1832,  and  was  a 
son  of  Horton  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Dill)  Si- 
mons. He  was  reared  in  his  native  town, 
where  his  father  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits.     On  starting  out  upon  his  business 


career  Monroe  J.  Simons  was  employed  for 
a  few  months  in  a  store  in  Newark,  Ohio, 
and  then  came  to  Fredericktown,  where  he 
was  employed  as  a  salesman  in  the  store  of 
C.  E.  Hooker.  His  aptitude  for  business 
and  his  trustworthiness  soon  gained  his  em- 
ployer's confidence  and  after  a  short  time 
he  was  admitted  tO'  a  partnership.  Before 
he  had  attained  the  age  oi  thirty  he  was  sole 
proprietor  of  the  enterprise  and  for  thirty- 
three  years  successfully  conducted  the  store, 
enjoying  a  very  liberal  and  profitable  pat- 
ronage. In  the  later  years  of  his  life  he 
was  engaged  in  the  grain  trade  until,  on  the 
8th  of  September,  1897,  he  was  smothered 
in  a  wheat  bin.  He  had  long  been  accounted 
one  of  the  most  valued  residents  of  the  com- 
munity and  his  death  was  deeply  mourned. 
His  political  support  was  given  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  he  stanchly  advocated  its 
interests.  Although  not  a  politician  in  the 
sense  of  office-seeking,  his  fellow  townsmen 
frequently  solicited  him  to  accept  office  and 
he  served  as  township  treasurer  and  as  a 
member  of  the  town  council  and  of  the 
school  board.  Fraternally  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Masonic  order  and  attained 
the  thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish  Rite 
in  Ohio  Consistory.  His  religious  faith 
was  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the 
Presbyterian  church.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  niaiden  name  of  Alice  Smith,  still  sur- 
vives her  husband.  She  was  born  in  Cana- 
da in  1836  while  her  parents  were  natives 
of  England.  Her  father  died  when  she  was 
only  tw"o  years  old  and  she  was  then  reared 
by  C.  R.  Hooker  and  was  usually  known  by 
the  name  of  Alice  Hooker.  She  is  a  most 
estimable  lady  and  makes  her  home  in  Fred- 
ericktown. In  the  family  are  three  children 
living:     Fred  D.,  Charles  and  John  B. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


,  In  his  parents  home  Fred  D.  Simons 
spent  the  period  of  his  minority  and  in  his 
early  youth  attended  the  pubHc  schools,  but 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  put  aside  his  text- 
books and  entered  his  father's  store,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  clerking  for  six  years. 
After  his  marriage  he  located  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides — a  tract  of  land  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres — and  there  for 
a  number  of  years  he  was  extensively  and 
successfully  engaged  in  farming,  but  about 
three  years  ago  he  abandoned  agricultural 
pursuits  and  has  since  given  his  attention 
to  dealing  in  horses.  In  1892  he  became  a 
partner  in  his  father's  grain  business,  becom- 
ing sole  owner  after  the  latter's  death,  but 
later  disposed  of  it.  He  has  carefully  con- 
ducted his  varied  interests  and  his  sound 
business  judgment  has  brought  to  him  very 
gratifying  prosperity.  In  1896  he  erected 
upon  his  farm  a  very  fine  residence,  hardly 
surpassed  in  the  county,  and  there  his  fam- 
ily reside,  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts 
that  gO'  to  make  life  worth  the  living. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  1882,  Mr.  Simons 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie  E. 
Lyon,  a  native  of  this  town  and  a  daughter 
of  Isaac  A.  and  Harriet  (Craven)  Lyon, 
both  natives  of  Knox  county.  The  Craven 
family  is  one  of  the  oldest  here,  the  grand- 
father and  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Simons  both  having  resided  in  this  county. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simons  have  been  born 
two  children  :  Alice  G.,  who  was  born  April 
16,  1883,  and  Hoy  Orton,  born  November 
I,  1884.  The  mother  and  daughter  hold 
membership  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr. 
Simons  belongs  to  Thrall  Lodge  No.  170, 
F.  &  A.  M.  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  Ann  Hill  Chapter,  No.  81,  0-.  E.  S.  The 
family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  commun- 


ity and  the  hospitality  of  the  best  homes  of 
this  part  of  the  county  is  freely  extended  to 
them.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Simons 
is  a  Republican  and  keeps  well  informed  on 
the  issues  of  the  day,  but  has  never  aspired 
to  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  and 
energies  to  his  business  interests,  which  have 
been  managed  so  ably  that  they  have  been 
crowned  with  a  high  degree  of  prosperity. 


GEORGE  W.  YAUGER. 

The  most  enduring  monument  which 
can  be  erected  to  the  memory  of  loved  ones 
is  not  made  of  marble  or  granite,  for  time 
crumbles  these  away;  and  precious  as  are 
the  cherished  memories  in  the  heart  s  of 
friends,  within  a  few  years  these  associates 
will  be  sleeping  in  the  silent  churchyard. 
Naught  endures  save  the  written  record,  the 
pages  glowing  with  the  records  of  the  noble 
life  and  kindly  deeds — these  alone  hand 
down  to  generations  of  the  future  the  his- 
tory of  the  past,  of  the  hardy  pioneers  whose 
brave  patriotism  and  undaunted  hearts  paved 
the  way  to  prosperity  and  civilization. 

One  of  the  manly,  respected  citizens  of 
Knox  county  was  George  W.  Yauger,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Morris  county,  New  York, 
October  2^,  1832.  He  was  one  of  five  chil- 
dren of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Wolf)  Yau- 
ger. The  father,  who  was  of  German  de- 
scent, was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and 
came  with  his  family  to  Ohio  about  1839, 
living  for  one  year  on  the  old  Delaware 
road,  six  miles  from  Mount  Vernon.  After- 
ward they  removed  to  Hilliar  township,  two 
miles  north  of  Centerburg.  The  father  was 
a  carpenter  by  trade  and  spent  much  of  his 


32 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


time  engaged  at  that  occupation,  while  his 
sons  conducted  the  farm.  In  1850  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Clinton  township,  purchasing 
thirty  acres  of  the  present  homestead,  two 
rtiiles  west  of  Mount  Vernon,  where  both 
passed  away  in  death.  After  his  parents' 
death  our  subject  came  into  possession  of 
this  tract,  while  his  brother,  Garrison,  in- 
herited the  farm  in  Hilliar  township.  In 
subsequent  years  Mr.  Yauger,  of  this  re- 
view, became  one  of  the  well-known  and 
leading  men  of  Mount  Vernon.  He  in- 
creased his  realty  holdings  to  two  hundred 
acres,  and  later  in  life  he  made  a  specialty  of 
the  raising  of  celery,  finding  a  ready  sale  for 
this  product  at  Mount  Vernon. 

On  the  5th  oi  February,  1862,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  T.  Lha- 
rfion,  of  Pleasant  township,  Kno'X  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Esther 
(Melker)  Lhamon,  who  came  from  Vir- 
ginia to  the  Buckeye  state  at  a  time  when  the 
country  south  of  Mount  Vernon  was  an  un- 
broken wilderness.  On  the  loth  of  July, 
1879,  the  loving  companion  and  helpmate 
was  called  to  her  final  rest,  leaving  seven 
children  :  Augustus  W. ;  George  E. ;  Samuel 
W. ;  Nora  E.,  the  wife  of  Norman  C.  Hook- 
w^ay ;  Sarah  A.,  the  wife  of  Fred  Ball;  Clara 
E.,  the  wife  of  William  S.  Gaff;  and  Rev. 
Frank  A.,  of  the  Congregational  ministry. 

In  August.  1 88 1,  Mr.  Yauger  married 
Miss  Lydia  Lhamon.  a  sister  of  his  former 
wife,  who  still  survives  him.  Mr.  Yauger 
was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and 
from  early  manhood  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church.  On  the  21st  of  April,  1900, 
he  answered  the  summons  to  the  better  land. 
His  kindness  of  heart  was  shown  not  only 
by  words  of  sympathy  but  by  acts  of  unos- 
tentatious benevolence.     In  business  circles 


he  was  noted  and  respected  for  his  great  in- 
dustry, energy,  punctuality  and  his  honor- 
able and  systematic  methods — all  of  which 
contributed  to  a  large  success,  which  he 
richly  deserved. 

Jennie  Bowden,  now  a  young  lady,  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Yauger  family  since 
a  child  of  nine  years  coming  to  them  at  her 
mother's  death.  Charles  M.  Porter  has  also 
for  some  years  been  an  important  factor  in 
the  operation  of  the  home  farm. 


COL.  WILLIAM  C.  COOPER. 

William  C.  Cooper  is  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  figures  in  the  history  of  juris- 
prudence in  Knox  count)^,  nor  is  his  repu- 
tation limited  by  its  boundaries,  for 
throughout  the  state  he  has  won  distinction 
by  reason  of  marked  ability.  He  entered 
upon  practice  more  than  thirty-five  years 
ago  and  his  success  came  soon  because  his 
equipment  was  unusually  good,  he  having 
been  a  close  and  earnest  student  of  the 
fundamental  principles  of  the  law.  Nature 
endowed  him  with  strong  intellectual  pow- 
ers and  he  has  acquired  that  persistent  en- 
ergy and  close  application  without  which 
there  is  no  success.  A  man  of  sound  judg- 
ment he  manages  his  cases  with  masterly 
skill  and  tact;  is  a  logical  reasoner  and  has 
a  ready  command  of  English.  His  powers 
as  an  advocate  have  been  demonstrated  by 
his  success  on  many  occasions  and  he  is  an 
able  lawyer  of  large  and  varied  experience 
in  all  the  courts.  Thoroughness  character- 
■izes  all  his  eflorts  and  he  conducts  all  his 
business  with  a  strict  regard  to  a  high 
standard  of  professional  ethics. 


^  ■  Ce.  ■    ^  ^^—rr^.^ 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


The  ancestral  history  of  Mr.  Cooper  in 
the  paternal  line  is  purely  American  for 
many  generations  remote,  while  on  the  ma- 
ternal side  he  is  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage. 
Prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  family  in 
Ohio  his  grandfather,  Daniel  Cooper,  and 
his  father,  Thompson  Cooper,  resided  in 
Pennsylvania,  both  being  natives  of  Butler 
county,  that  state,  whence  they  came  to 
Mount  Vernon  in  the  year  1806.  Daniel 
Cooper  entered  the  army  in-  the  war  of  18 12 
and,  holding  the  rank  of  captain,  rendered 
valuable  service  to  his  country  in  her  sec- 
ond war  with  England.  He  continued  his 
residence  in  Knox  county  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1841.  Thompson  Coop- 
er, the  father  of  our  subject,  was  but  a 
boy  when  the  family  came  to  Ohio,  and 
therefore  was  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes 
and  circumstances  of  pioneer  life.  As  the 
years  progressed  he  took  his  place  among 
the  leaders  of  thought  and  action  in  the 
county  and  was  very  prominent  and  influen- 
tial in  public  affairs.  For  thirty  years  he 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  for  eight 
yearsi  was  mayor  of  Mount  Vernon,  his 
long  continuance  in  office  indicating  unmis- 
takably the  high  place  which  he  occupied  in 
the  public  regard.  His  career  was  above  re- 
proach, his  public  faithfulness  being 
equalled  by  the  probity  and  uprightness  of 
his  private  life.  He  was  serving  as  mayor 
at  the  time  o^f  his  death  in  1863,  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  no  citizen  of  Mount  Vernon 
has  been  more  widely  or  deeply  mourned. 
He  married  Rebecca  Craig,  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  who 
possessed  the  strong  traits  of  character  of 
her  Scotch  ancestry,  thrift,  perseverance,  un- 
faltering honesty  and  conscientiousness. 
She  endeavored  tO'  impress  upon  the  minds 


of  her  children  lessons  of  industry  and 
truth,  thus  preparing  them  with  the  fortifi- 
cations of  an  upright  character  to  meet  the 
battles  of  life. 

During  his  youth  Mr.  Cooper  enjoyed 
instruction  in  private  schools  and  in  Mount 
Vernon  Academy,  and  through  the  months 
of  summer  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm,  developing  thereby  the  strong  phys- 
ical powers  which  have  formed  the  basis  of 
his  work,  enabling  him  to  carry  on  the  men- 
tal activity  so  necessary  to  success  at  the 
bar.  In  early  life  it  became  his  strong  de- 
sire to  enter  the  legal  profession  and  to  this 
end  he  began  study  under  the  direction  of 
Joseph  W.  Vance  and  James  Smith,  Jr. 
When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  and  soon  afterward  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  his  former  pre- 
ceptor, Mr.  Vance,  this  relation  being  main- 
tained until  the  death  of  Mr.  Vance,  who 
was  killed  on  the  field  of  battle.  Soon  after 
the  inauguration  of  the  Civil  war  they 
closed  their  office  and  entered  their  coun- 
try's service,  Mr.  Vance  becoming  a  colonel. 
He  was  commanding  his  regiment  at  the 
t'ime  he  was  killed.  Mr.  Cooper  was  among 
the  first  to  enlist  in  defense  of  the  starry 
banner  of  the  nation,  becoming  first  lieuten- 
ant of  Company  B,  Fourth  Ohio  Infantry, 
with  which  he  continued  in  active  service 
until  the  following  January,  when  he  re- 
signed in  order  to  attend  to  the  business  of 
the  firm  and  important  personal  matters. 
Early  in  1864,  however,  he  returned  to  the 
service  for  one  hundred  days  as  colonel  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-sceond  Ohio 
Volunteers,  with  which  he  particiipated  in 
the  Petersburg  campaign. 

At   the   conclusion   of  his   second   term 
j  Mr.  Cooper  returned  home  and  resumed  the 


34 


A    CEXTEXXIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


practice  of  law  alone.  Later  he  was  for 
two  years  in  partnership  with  Henry  T. 
Porter  and  for  eight  years  was  at  the  head 
of  the  firm  of  Cooper,  Porter  &  Mitchell. 
He  is  remarkable  among  lawyers  for  the 
wide  research  and  provident  care  with 
which  he  prepares  his  cases.  In  no  instance 
has  his  reading  ever  been  confined  to  the 
limitations  of  the  questions  at  issue;  it  has 
gone  beyond  and  compassed  every  contin- 
gency and  provided  not  alone  for  the  ex- 
pected, but  for  the  unexpected,  which  hap- 
pens in  the  courts  quite  as  frequently  as  out 
of  them.  His  logical  grasp  of  facts  and 
principles  of  the  law  applicable  to  them 
has  been  another  potent  element  in  his  suc- 
cess, and  a  remarkable  cleverness  of  expres- 
sion, an  adequate  and  precise  diction,  which 
enables  him  to  make  others  understand  not 
only  the  salient  points  of  his  argument,  but 
his  every  fine  gradation  of  meaning,  may 
be  accounted  one  of  his  most  conspicuous 
gifts  and  accomplishments.  He  is  quick  to 
master  all  the  intricacies  in  a  case  and  grasp 
all  details,  'at  the  same  time  losing  sight  of 
none  of  the  essential  points  upon  which  the 
decision  of  every  case  finally  turns.  His 
fidelity  to  his  clients'  interests  is  proverbial, 
yet  he  never  forgets  that  he  owes  a  higher 
allegiance  to  the  majesty  of  the  law.  His 
diligence  and  energy  in  the  preparation  of 
his  cases,  as  well  as  the  earnestness,  tenacity 
and  courage  with  which  he  defends  the 
right  as  he  understands  it,  challenges  the 
highest  admiration  of  his  associates.  Yet  he 
scorns  the  glittering  chaplet  of  forensic  tri- 
umph if  it  must  be  gained  by  debasing  him- 
self, debauching  public  morality  or  degrad- 
ing the  dignity  of  his  profession. 

The  name  of  Mr.  Cooper  figures  promi- 
nently in  connection  with  the  history  of  the 


Republican  party  in  Ohio,  for,  though  he 
has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of 
office  seeking,  his  opinlions  carry  weight  in 
the  councils  of  his  party  and  he  is  a  director 
of  public  thought  and  feeling.  Prior  to  the 
Civil  war  Colonel  Cooper  held  the  office  of 
prosecuting  attorney  for  four  years.  In 
i860  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Mount  Ver- 
non and  served  for  two  consecutive  terms. 
In  1 87 1  he  was  chosen  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in  the  state  legislature  and  at  the  close 
of  the  term  declined  a  second  election.  He 
was  for  six  years  president  of  the  board  of 
education  of  Mount  Vernon  and  for  five 
years  was  advocate  general  of  the  state  of 
Ohio.  These  are  the  only  civil  offices  held 
by  him  until  he  was  elected  to  the  Forty- 
ninth  congress  in  1884.  In  1886  and  again 
in  1888  he  was  re-elected.  His  reputation 
as  a  lawyer  gave  him  a  standing  which  was 
maintained  and  advanced  by  the  wisdom  of 
his  counsel  in  the  committee-room  and  his 
power  in  debate  on  the  floor.  He  was  not 
only  a  very  able,  but  also  a  very  useful  mem- 
ber and  he  served  on  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant committees  of  the  house.  During 
his  first  term  the  bill  providing  for  the  or- 
der of  succession  in  the  office  of  president 
was  passed  and  he  was  a  member  of  the 
committee  in  charge  of  the  bill.  His  argu- 
ment on  the  subject  was  masterly  and  patri- 
otic. He  was  influential  on  the  committees 
on  elections,  on  territories,  on  banking  and 
on  currency.  He  managed  several  cam- 
paigns as  chairman  of  the  Republican  state 
central  committee  and  was  the  representa- 
tive of  the  Republican  party  in  Ohio  in  the 
national  committee  from  1876  until  1884, 
during  the  period  of  greatest  contention  in 
the  party,  and  was  a  defegate  to  the  national 
convention  in  1872  and  1880. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


1195030 


In  January,  1864,  Mr.  Cooper  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  Russell,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  John  W.  Russell,  a  phj^sii- 
cian  of  prominence,  who'  for  sixty  years 
practiced  his  profession  in  Mount  Ver- 
non. TwO'  daughters  were  born  unto 
them.  Mr.  Cooper's  social  relations  con- 
nect him  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  he  has  twice  represented 
his  state  in  the  national  encampment. 
His  citizenship  has  ever  been  charac- 
terized by  unswerving  loyalty  to  the  best 
interests  of  city,  state  and  nation  and 
by  mastery  of  every  subject  upon  which  his 
actions  could  have  direct  or  indirect  bear- 
ing; socially  he  is  most  popular,  for  he  is 
genial,  courteous  and  kindly,  and  true  merit 
can  always  win  his  friendship;  profession- 
ally he  is  most  talented  and  prominent,  his 
comprehensive  understanding  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  jurisprudence,  combined  with  his 
logic  and  power  in  argument,  rendering  him 
one  of  the  most  able  members  of  the  Ohio 
bar.  Such  is  the  life  record  of  one  who  for 
seventy  years  has  been  an  honored  resident 
of  Mount  Vernon. 


I        ALEXANDER  CRITCHFIELD. 

Throughout  his  entire  life  Alexander 
Critchfield  has  been  a  resident  of  Knox 
county,  and  has  been  identified  with  many 
of  the  interests  that  have  contributed  tO'  its 
substantial  development  and  improvement. 
His  probity,  fidelity  and  sterling  worth  have 
won  him  the  unqualified  confidence  O'f  his 
fellow  townsmen,  and  his  pathway  is  now 
brightened  by  the  love  and  respect  which 
should  ever  follow  an  upright  career. 


Mr.  Critchfield  was  born  upon  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  September  11,  1845. 
His  father,  Jesse  Critchfield,  claimed  Penn- 
sylvania as  the  state  of  his  nativity,  but  in. 
an  early  day  he  came  to  Knx>x  county,  Ohio, 
where  his  death  occurred  when  he  was  yet 
in  the  prime  of  life,  passing  away  at  the  age 
of  fifty-eight  years.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth 
Mowrey,  and  she,  too,  was  born  in  the  Key- 
stone state.  She  reached  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty-nine  years.  This  worthy  couple 
became  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  was  the  eleventh  in  order 
of  birth.  His  youth  was  spent  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads  of  the  period,  de- 
voting his  time  during  the  summer  months 
to  the  work  of  the  farm  and  in  the  winter 
season  he  attended  the  common  schools  of 
the  neighborhood.  In  1862,  when  but  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  he  enlisted  for  service  in 
the  Civil  war,  entering  Company  F,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  in  which  he  served  until  the  close 
of  hostilities.  During  his  career  as  a  soldier 
he  took  part  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  was 
with  Sherman  on  his  celebrated  march  to 
the  sea,  and  took  part  in  the  last  battle 
fought  at  'Bentonville,  North  Carolina. 
From  that  place  they  went  to  Richmond  and 
then  on  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  they 
participated  in  the  grand  review,  the  grand- 
est military  pageant  ever  witnessed  on  the 
western  hemisphere.  Receiving  an  honora- 
ble discharge  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  on 
the  22d  of  July,  1865,  Mr.  Critchfield  then 
returned  tOi  his  home  and  again  took  up  the 
quiet  duties  of  farm  life.  After  his  father's 
death  he  purchased  the  interest  of  the  other 
heirs  in  the  old  homestead,  and  has  there  re- 
sided throughout  his  entire  life.     He  now 


36 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTOR\' 


owns  one  hundred  acres  of  fertile  and  well 
improved  land,  on  which  he  has  erected  com- 
modious and  substantial  buildings,  and  his 
is  now  one  of  the  most  valuable  homesteads 
of  its  size  in  the  locality.  He  is  engaged 
in  the  raising  of  the  cereals  best  adapted  to 
this  soil  aaid  climate,  and  his  efforts  in  the 
line  of  his  chosen  vocation  are  bringing  to 
him,  a  high  and  well  merited  degree  of  pros- 
perity. 

January  12,  1867,  Mr.  Critchfield  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Tilda  Humbert,  a  na- 
tive of  Howard  to^vnship,  Knox  county,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Emma,  the  wife  of 
Frank  Mavis.  They  make  their  home  upon 
the  old  family  homestead  with  her  parents. 
Mrs.  Critchfield's  parents,  John  and  Susanna 
Humbert,  came  from  Pennsylvania,  their 
native  state,  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  a  very 
early  day,  and  they  became  prominent  and 
leading  citizens  of  their  locality.  They  were 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  Mrs.  Critch- 
field  being  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth.  Our 
subject  maintains  pleasant  relations  with 
his  old  army  comrades  through  his  member- 
ship with  LeRoy  Baker  Post,  No.  120,  G. 
A.  R;,  in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  senior 
vice  commander.  His  political  support  is 
given  to  the  Republican  party,  and  at  all 
times  he  is  a  progressive  and  public-spirited 
citizen  who  takes  a  deep  interest  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munitv. 


GEORGE  H.  SPRY. 


George  H.  Spry  has  almost  reached  the 
eightieth  milestone  on  life's  journey  and 
throughout  the  long  period  has  resided  in 
Knox  county,  being  to-day  one  of  its  hon- 


ored and  respected  citizens,  enjoying  the  re- 
gard of  young  and  old,  rich  and  poor.  He 
was  born  in  Monroe  township,  August  12, 
1822,  his  parents  being  Perry  and  Mary 
(Chadwick)  Spry,  who  were  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  the  county,  where  the  father  fol- 
lowed farming  at  an  early  day. 

It  was  upon  the  old  family  homestead 
that  the  subject  of  this  review  spent  the  days 
of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  working  in  the 
fields  and  meadows,  early  becoming  an  ac- 
tive factor  in  the  development  and  cultiva- 
tion 'of  his  father's  land.  His  labor  in  this 
direction,  however,  brought  to  him  the  prac- 
tical experience  which  enabled  him  to  carry 
on  the  business  successfully  when  he  started 
out  upon  an  independent  career.  Like  most 
young  men  who  begin  work  for  themselves 
he  desired  a  home  of  his  own  and  on  the 
30th  of  October,  1851,  he  completed  his  ar- 
rangements for  one  by  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Polly  Jackson,  with  whom  he  lived  for  more 
than  twenty-one  years,  when  they  were  sep- 
arated by  the  hand  of  death,  the  lady  being 
called  to  her  final  rest  on  the  22d  of  Febru- 
ary, 1873.  On  the  28th  of  September,  1876, 
Mr.  Spry  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Wealthy  Almira  Os- 
born,  -who  was  born  in  Ca},-uga  county.  New 
York,  February  16,  183 1,  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Lois  Osborn.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  she  began  teaching  school  in  Craw- 
ford county,  Ohio,  and  successfully  followed 
that  profession  for  eleven  terms,  her  last 
school  being  in  Monroe  tOAvnship,  Knox 
county.  By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Spry 
had  the  following  named  children :  Henry, 
who  is  living  in  Fredericktown,  Ohio;  Na- 
than Albert,  who  follows  farming  in  Pike 
township;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Oakly  Marion, 
of  IMorris  township:  and  a  son  who  died 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


37 


when  only  one  year  old,  having  been  born 
the  14th  of  September  and  died  the  15th  of 
the  following  September. 

Almost  a  half  century  ago  Mr.  Spry  took 
up  his  abode  upon  his  present  farm,  which 
has  been  his  home  continuously  since.  The 
place  comprises  one  hundred' and  thirty-one 
acres  of  the  rich  land  of  Pike  township  and 
he  has  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  the 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  his  land,  the 
years  bringing  to  him  excellent  crops,  and 
from  their  sale  he  has  added  each  year  to 
his  income.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  has  no  desire  for  office.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  church,  and  although 
his  life  has  been  quietly  passed,  unmarked 
by  any  event  of  exciting  interest,  it  has  ever 
been  characterized  by  fidelity  to  duty,  by 
honor  in  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men 
and  by  straightforward  dealings  in  all  trade 
transactions. 


JOHN  LORA  RUSH. 

•  No  other  resident  of  Morris  township 
has  for  so  long  a  period  been  located  within 
its  borders  as  John  L.  Rush  and  his  active 
connection  with  the  affairs  of  the  county 
through  many  decades  would  render  this 
work  incomplete  if  the  record  of  his  life  was 
omitted.  His  memory  forms  a  connecting 
link  between  the  primitive  past  and  the 
progressive  present,  between  pioneer  condi- 
tions and  the  advanced  civilization  of  to-day. 
It  IS  therefore  meet  that  he  should  be  men- 
tioned in  this  volume,  for  not  alone  because 
of  the  fact  that  he  was  an  early  settler,  but 
also  because  of  his  sterling  worth  and  his 
active  connection  with  business  and  public 
affairs  should  his  history  form  a  part  of  this 
volume. 


Mr.  Rush  was  born  in  Morris  township, 
October  6,  1818,  and  on  the  paternal  side  is 
of  German  lineage,  for  his  grandfather  came 
from  Germany  to  the  new  world.  Peter 
Rush,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
New  Jersey,  and,  making  his  way  to  Knox 
cotmty,  he  here  entered  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  from  the  government, 
which  is  still  in  possession  of  his  descend- 
ants. From  the  government  he  secured  a 
large  tract  of  land,  which  was  then  w-ild  and 
unimproved,  but  offered  excellent  possibili- 
ties to  the  man  of  determination  and  energy. 
Those  characteristics  in  Mr.  Rush  enabled 
him  to  transform  his  place  into  a  valuable 
farm,  upon  which  he  spent  his  remaining 
days.  He  wedded  Clarissa  Upson,  whose 
parents  were  natives  of  Long  Island  and 
after  their  marriage  emigrated  to  KnO'X 
county,  where  they  became  prosperous  and 
well  known.  Mr.  Rush,  passed  away  in 
death  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 

On  the  old  family  homestead  Mr.  Rush 
of  this  review  was  reared  amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  frontier  life.  There  were  no  pub- 
lic schools  at  the  time  and  he  pursued  his 
education  in  a  subscription  school,  which 
was  held  in  an  old  frame  building,  supplied 
with  slab  seats,  while  boards  hung  to  the 
wall  served  as  writing  desks.  The  floor  was 
also  made  of  slabs,  and  one  entire  end  of  the 
room  was  taken  up  by  an  immense  fireplace. 
Although  his  educational  privileges  were 
somewhat  meager  his  training  at  farm  labor 
was  not  limited.  He  aided  in  the  arduous 
task  of  clearing  and  cultivating  new  land, 
and  throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits.  He  has  never  lived 
outside  the  boundaries  of  Morris  township 
and  is  the  oldest  resident  within  its  borders 
born  in  the  township.     He  has  engaged  in 


38 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


a  limited  extent  in  carpenter  work  and  alsO' 
manufactured  coffins  for  the  burial  of  the 
dead  in  an  early  day,  but  during  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  his  energies  have  been  de- 
voted to  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  whereby  he 
has  secured  a  good  living. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  1841,  Mr. 
Rush  secured  as  a  companion  and  helpmate 
for  the  journey  of  life  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Lev- 
eridge,  a  daughtei  of  James  and  Anna 
(Douglass)  Leveridge.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren, but  one  died  in  infancy.  The  surviv- 
ing son  is  Alfred,  who  married  Emma  Mer- 
rin,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Ludima  (Irv- 
ine) Merrin,  and  he  now  operates  the  home 
farm.  For  many  years  Mr.  Rush  was  very 
prominent  in  public  affairs.  He  held  a  num- 
ber of  township  offices,  including  those  of 
supervisor  and  trustee,  and  he  has  ever  been 
a  warm  advocate  of  the  Republican  party 
since  its  organization.  His  public  duties 
were  ever  discharged  with  promptness  and 
fidelity  and  his  upright,  honorable  career 
won  for  him  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
all  with  whom  he  has  been  associated.  With 
the  consciousness  of  a  life  well  spent  and 
with  pleasant  memories  of  good  deeds  per- 
formed for  his  fellow  men  Mr.  Rush  is  near- 
ing  the  end  of  the  journey  of  life,  but  his 
influence  on  his  generation  cannot  be  calcu- 
lated nor  his  value  as  a  pioneer  be  meas- 
ured. 


WTLLIAM  EBERSOLE. 

In  the  death  of  William  Ebersole  Knox 
county  lost  cue  of  its  citizens  whom  it  had 
learned  to  value  by  reason  of  his  sterling 
worth,  his  business  honesty  and  his  upright 
life.     He  was  a  valiant  soldier  of  the  Civil 


war  and  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life  was  actively  identified  with  farming  in- 
terests in  Knox — his  native  county.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Wayne  township,  July  26, 
183 1,  his  parents  being  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Krider)  Ebersole.  His  father  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812  and  devoted  his 
energies  to  agricultural  pursuits,  so  that  our 
subject  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  where  he 
early  became  familiar  with  the  work  of  the 
field  and  meadow  and  with  all  the  labors 
that  make  up  the  sum  of  the  day's  toil  for  the 
agriculturist.  In  the  schools  of  Frederick- 
town  he  mastered  the  common  branches  of 
learning  and  then  pursued  his  chosen  occu- 
pation until  the  ist  of  September,  1862, 
when  feeling  that  his  duty  was  to  his  coun- 
try he  offered  his  services  to  the  government 
and  was  enrolled  among  the  boys  in  blue  of 
Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
first  Ohio  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into 
service  at  Camp  Chase  and  remained  at  the 
front  throughout  the  remainder  of  the  war. 
Being  taken  ill  he  lay  in  the  army  hospital 
for  a  long  time,  but  nevertheless  he  rendered 
active  and  efficient  service  to  the  Union 
cause  in  a  number  of  hotly  contested  battles. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Chicka-  ; 
mauga  and  Perryville,  the  siege  if  Atlanta  1 
and  after  the  fall  of  that  city  went  with  i 
Sherman  on  his  celebrated  march  to  the  i 
sea,  which  proved  that  the  strength  of  the 
Confederacy  was  almost  spent.  \Mien  the 
active  hostilities  had  ceased  he  participated 
in  the  grand  review  in  W^ashington,  D.  C, 
where  "wave  after  wave  of  bayonet  crested 
blue"  swept  by  the  stand  from  which  the 
president  watched  the  return  of  the  victori- 
ous army.  He  was  then  discharged  and 
mustered  out  of  service  in  April.  1S65. 

With  a  creditable  militarv  record  Will- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


39 


iam  Ebersole  returned  to  his  home,  and  on 
the  isth  of  October  of  the  following  year 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Matilda  Eber- 
sole, a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Ann 
(Johnson)  Ebersole.  Her  paternal  grarid- 
father,  Jacob  Ebersole,  came  to  Knox  coun- 
ty from  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1812,  and  therefore  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers,  for  the  work  of  improvement  and 
civilization  had  scarcely  been  begun  at  the 
time  of  his  arrival.  He  married  Magdalene 
Whitmore,  and  they  had  six  children :  John 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Ebersole  of  this  review; 
Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Wise;  Nancy,  who  married  John  Baugh- 
man;  Jacob;  Catherine;  and  Joseph.  The 
first  of  this  family,  John  Ebersole,  married 
Mary  Ann  Johnson,  a  daug'hter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  Johnson,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  three  children:  Floretta  E.,  the  wife 
of  Edward  Coe;  Mrs.  Matilda  Ebersole  of 
this  sketch ;  and  Rebecca  Ann,  who  married 
David  Studer. 

William  Ebersole  and  his  wife  began 
their  domestic  life  on  the  farm  where  she  is 
now  living.  He  devoted  his  energies  to 
agricultural  pursuits  from'  the  time  of  his 
return  from  the  army  until  his  death,  and 
his  labors  brought  to  him  success,  for  he 
was  energetic,  capable  and  systematic — qual- 
ities..which  always  contribute  largely  to  pros- 
perity. His  fellow  townsmen  knew  him  for 
an  honorable  man,  reliable  and  trustworthy, 
and  his  friends  found  him  genial  and  kindly, 
but  his  loss  is  most  greatly  felt  in  the  home 
where  he  was  a  devoted  husband  and  where 
he  is  survived  only  by  his  widow,  they  never 
having  had  any  children.  He  passed  away 
November  14,  1893,  but  his  memory  is  still 
enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  many  who  knew 
him.     Mrs.  Ebersole  is  living  alone  on  the 


farm,  which  she  superintends.  It  is  pleas- 
antly and  conveniently  located  only  a  mile 
from  Fredericktown,  and  she  has  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  the  township.  Her  land 
is  seventy-three  acres  in  extent  and  returns 
to  her  annually  a  good  income  in  reward  for 
the  care  and  labor  which,  under  her  direc- 
tion, is  bestowed  upon  it.  In  the  community 
where  she  has  so  long  resided  she  has  many 
warm  friends  who  will  be  glad  to  read  this 
history  of  her  and  her  husband. 


WILLIAM  H.  SMITH. 

On  the  roster  of  county  officials  in  Knox 
county  appears  the  namje  of  William  H. 
Smith,  who  is  now  serving  the  second  term 
as  county  recorder.  A  well-known  states- 
man has  said,  "You  may  fool  all  of  the 
American  people  some  of  the  time :  some  of 
the  people  all  of  the  time,  but  you  can't  fool 
all  of  the  American  people  all  of  the  time." 
The  truth  of  this  is  continually  manifest  in 
political  life.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that 
men  by  unworthy  methods  sometimes  gain 
public  office,  but  a  discriminating  public 
does  not  retain  them'  there,  and  when  one  is 
re-elected  to  office  it  is  very  good  evidence 
that  he  is  deserving  and  trustworthy.  Such 
is  certainly  the  case  with  Mr.  Smith,  who  is 
now  capably  serving  in  the  position  of  coun- 
ty recorder  for  a  second  term. 

He  is  one  of  Knox  county's  native  sons, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Milford  town- 
ship in  1836,  and  his  ancestry  may  be  traced 
back  to  one  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes,  for 
his  grandfather,  Captain  Henry  Smith,  com.- 
manded  a  company  in  the  war  for  independ-. 
ence  and  was  at  Wheeling,  West  Virginia, 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


when  the  place  was  surrounded  by  Indians. 
He  wedded  Mary  Irisli,  who  was  born  in 
Ireland,  and  among  their  children  was  Will- 
iam H.  Smith,  the  father  of  our  subject.  He 
was  born  in  Ohio  county,  Virginia,  in  1799 
and  in  18^3  emigrated  to  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Alilford 
township,  where  he  successfully  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits  until  1866.  A 
recognized  leader  in  public  thought  and 
opinion,  he  was  called  upon  to  serve 
in  many  positions  of  trust  and  respon- 
sibility. He  acted  as  township  trustee 
and  in  other  local  offices  and  in  1843  ^"^  in 
1845  "^^'^s  elected  to  the  state  legislature. 
Later  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  state  senate. 
His  pohtical  belief  was  that  of  the  Demo- 
ocratic  party.  He  took  an  active  part  in  try- 
ing to  defeat  the  Walhondig  canal  and  this 
caused  his  political  defeat  on  one  occasion, 
but  time  proved  that  his  course  was  a  wise 
one  and  that  the  people  again  placed  confi- 
dence in  his  political  work  was  shown  by  the 
fact  that  he  was  again  elected  to  the  legisla- 
ture. He  left  the  impress  of  his  individual- 
ity upon  many  measures  which  came  up  for 
settlement  in  the  house  when  he  occupied  a 
scat  therein,  and  he  ever  commanded  the  re- 
spect of  his  colleagues  by  reason  of  his  fidel- 
ity to  his  honest  convictions.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Milford  township, 
and  with  every  movement  that  had  for -its 
object  the  general  welfare  he  was  in  sym- 
pathy. 

Hon.  William  H.  Smith  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Esther  Dill,  whow-as  born 
near  Columbus,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
Dill,  who  served  as  a  captain  in  the  war  of 
181 2  under  General  Mc Arthur  and  was 
present  at  the  time  of  Hull's  surrender.    Mr. 


Smith  died  in  Mount  Vernon,  in  1871,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-two  years  and  the  com- 
munity thereby  lost  one  of  its  honored  and 
valued  citizens.  His  wife  survived  until 
1 89 1  and  died  in  Tennessee  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one.  The  members  of  the  family 
were:  Henry,  of  Kossuth  county,  Iowa; 
Mary,  deceased  wife  of  Morris  Mahan,  of 
Grand  Rapids,  Michigan;  William  H. ; 
James,  who  served  as  sergeant  major  in  the 
Civil  war  and  is  now  living  in  Tiffin,  Ohio; 
Harriet,  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee;  and 
Thomas  and  Adalaide,  who  are  also  living 
in  Knoxville. 

In  the  common  schools  of  this  county 
William  H.  Smith  pursued  his  education" 
and  throughout  his  business  career  he  has 
carried  on  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing, following  those  pursuits  on  an  extensive 
scale  in  Liberty  township.  His  enterprise 
and  industry,  combined  with  good  judg- 
ment, made  him  one  of  the  leading  and  pros- 
perous farmers  of  the  community  and  every- 
thing about  his  place  indicated  his  care  and 
supervision.  In  1897,  however,  he  put  aside 
the  work  of  the  farm  to  enter  upon  the  duties 
of  county  recorder,  to  which  office  he  had 
been  elected  in  the  fall  of  the  previous  year, 
for  a  three-years'  term.  In  1900  he  was 
again  chosen  for  the  same  position — -the 
election  being  a  comment  upon  his  efficiency 
and  trustworthiness.-  For  twelve  years  he 
had  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Milford 
township  and  was  assessor  both  in  Liberty 
and  Milford  townships.  He  has  been  a  life- 
long Democrat,  very  active  in  behalf  of  the; 
party. 

Mr.  Smith  married  Miss  Hannah  J. 
iVIilligan,  of  Miller  township,  a  daughter  of 
George  Milligan,  who  came  from  Ohio 
countv,    \'irginia,    to    the    Buckeve    state.      I 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


Their  children  are  William  H. ;  Elizabeth, 
at  home;  George,  of  Columbus;  Esther,  who 
assists  her  father  in  the  recorder's  office; 
Louisa,  the  wife  of  John  Keys,  of  Liberty 
township;  Hervey  and  Frances,  who  assist 
in  the  recorder's  office.  The  family  is  wide- 
ly known  in  the  county  and  its  members 
enjoy  the  warm  regard  of  many  friends. 


HENRY  P.  DURBIN. 

Tlie  name  of  Durbin  is  closely  inter- 
woven with  the  history  of  Knox  county,  for 
at  an  early  day  its  representatives  came  to 
this  part  of  Ohio^  and  since  that  time  mem- 
bers of  the  family  have  been  actively  indenti- 
fied  with  the  line  of  work  that  leads  to  the 
substantial  development  and  improvement 
of  a  community.  From  pioneer  times  down 
to  the  present  they  have  been  associated  with 
agricultural  interests — and  it  is  the  work  of 
the  farm  that  forms  the  basis  of  all  business 
activity.  Henry  Patterson  Durbin  is  now 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  upon 
an  excellent  farm  in  Morris  township.  His 
ancestry  on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal 
sides  may  be  traced  back  to  Germany,  but 
in  the  primitive  period  of  American  settle- 
ment those  from  whom  he  traces  his  descent 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world.  Sam- 
uel Durbin,  his  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  in  that  state  was  reared 
and  married.  Li  1810,  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  he  came  to  Knox  county  and  entered 
a  large  tract  of  land  from  the  government, 
developing  therefrom  a  farm  which  is  still 
owned  by  his  descendants.  Since  that  time 
the  Durbins  have  been  classed  among  the 
leading  citizens  of  Knox  county  on  accoimt 
of  their  sterling  worth  and  the  efficient  aid 


they  have  given  to  all  measures  and  move- 
ments for  the  general  good. 

Henry  Patterson  Durbin  was  born  in 
Mount  Vernon,  June  7.  1838,  and  to  its  pub- 
lic schools  system  he  is  indebted  for  the  edu- 
cational privileges  he  enjoyed.  Early  in  life 
he  went  to  Paris,  Illinois,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried, on  the  20th  of  December,  1864,  to  Miss 
]\Iary  Chilcoat,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
and  Mary  (Swoise)  Chilcoat.  Seven  chil- 
dren have  been  born  unto  them,  as  follows : 
Emery,  who  is  operating  the  old  home  farm 
with  his  father;  Jessie  E.,  the  wife  of  James 
Parish,  by  whom  she  had  four  children — 
Ethel  Adel,  Frances  Marie,  Tina,  deceased, 
and  Minnie;  Lizzie,  who  died  in  1893,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years;  William  R.,  who 
lives  in  Mount  Vernon;  Miles,  at  home;  one 
who  died  in  infancy ;  and  Grace,  wife  of 
Ellsworth   Johnson. 

Mr.  Durbin  has  for  a  number  of  years 
resided  in  Morris  township,  where  he  owns 
and  operated  a  valuable  tract  of  land  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  The  industry 
which  has  ever  been  characteristic  of  his  bus- 
iness career  has  enabled  him  to  overcome  all 
the  obstacles  and  difficulties  in  his  path  and 
steadily  advance  on  the  high  road  to  success. 
Tliomas  Emery  Durbin,  his  son,  who  is 
associated  with  him  in  the  management  and 
cultivation  of  the  home  farm,  was  born  in 
Paris.  Illinois,  January  23,  1866,  but  during 
his  infancy  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Knox  county.  He  pursued  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  and  then  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  pursuit  to  which  he  had  been 
reared — that  of  farming.  Experience  and 
careful  consideration  have  taught  him  the 
best  methods  of  tilling  the  soil  so  as  to  pro- 
duce good  crops  and  annually  his  rich  har- 
vests add  to  his  financial  resources. 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


On  the  1 6th  of  February,  1898,  Thomas 
E.  Durbin  was  married  to  Miss  Birdie  E. 
Hess,  who  was  born  July  7,  1878,  and  they 
are  now  the  parents  of  two  interesting  httle 
sons,  Dwig-ht  Russell  and  Floyd  Hess.  Mr. 
Durbin  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias fraternity,  belonging  to  Timon  Lodge, 
No.  4,  and  also  to  the  Uniformed  Rank.  He 
was  also  at  one  time  associated  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  his  re- 
ligious faith  he  is  a  Methodist  and  in  his  po- 
litical views  is  a  strong  Republican,  unwav- 
ering in  his  allegiance  to  the  party  which  he 
thinks  best  conserves  the  public  welfare. 


ELI  A.  WOLFE. 


Eli  A.  Wolfe  now  ranks  as  the  leading 
business  man  of  Howard  and  is  classed 
among  the  most  energetic  and  progressive 
citizens  O'f  Knox  county,  where  he  has  spent 
his  entire  life.  An  analyzation  of  his  char- 
acter shows  that  he  owes  his  success  not  to 
inheritance  or  the  aid  of  influential  friends, 
but  to  his  own  well-directed  efforts.  Realiz- 
ing that  in  America  "labor  is  king,''  with 
resolute  purpose  he  set  to  work  to  achieve 
prosperity  and  earnest  toil  has  secured  his 
steady  advancement. 

Mr.  Wolfe  is  a  native  of  Harrison  town- 
ship, this  county,  December  30.  1857,  and 
comes  of  a  family  of  German  lineage,  which, 
however  was  planted  on  American  soil  at  an 
early  period  in  the  development  of  this  coun- 
try. His  grandfather,  John  Wolfe,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  became  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Knox  county,  where  he 
followed  his  chosen  occupation  of  farming. 
His  son,  Jacob  Wolfe,  the  father  of  our  sub- 


ject, was  born  in  Harrison  township  and 
when  he  had  attained  to  man's  estate  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been 
reared — that  of  cultivating  the  soil.  His 
death  occurred  in  1861..  His  wife,  who  in 
her  maidenhood  was  Mary  A.  McArtor,  vvas 
born  and  reared  in  Howard  township.  Her 
father,  Jonathan  McArtor,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  became  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Knox  county.  He  was  oi  Irish  descent 
and  provided  for  his  family  by  following  the 
plow.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Wolfe,  is  still 
living  and  makes  her  home  with  her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Holmes,  in  Mount  Vernon.  By 
her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  two 
sons  and  a  daughter,  all  of  whom  are  living: 
Cary  E.,  a  resident  farmer  of  Harrison 
township;  Eli  A.;  and  Celesta,  the  wife  of 
Harry  Holmes,  of  Mount  Vernon. 

On  his  father's  farm  in  his  native  town- 
ship Eli  Wolfe  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  and  began  his  education  in  the 
home  district.  After  mastering  the  common 
branches  of  English  learning  he  became  a 
student  in  the  Normal  at  Utica,  Ohio,  where 
he  completed  a  three-years'  course  and  was 
graduated  in  1881.  He  then  engaged  in 
teaching  school  for  a  year  in  the  village  of 
Bladensburg,  and  on  the  4th  of  July,  1882, 
he  began  dealing  in  general  merchandising  in 
Howard,  where  he  has  since  conducted  a 
store,  carrying  a  large  and  well-selected 
stock  of  goods.  His  reasonable  prices,  his 
straightforward  business  methods  and  his 
earnest  desire  to  please  have  secured  to  him 
a  liberal  patronage  and  made  the  business 
profitable.  Since  1891  he  has  been  associ- 
ated with  J.  G.  Critchfield  in  the  undertak- 
ing business  and  since  1897  has  been  an  act- 
ive representative  to  the  grain  trade.  It 
will  thus  be  seen  that  his  efforts  have  not 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


been  confined  to  one  line.  He  is  a  man  of 
resourceful  business  ability  and  his  capable 
management,  enterprise  and  laudable  ambi- 
tion have  won  him  prosperity.  It  is  true 
that  like  other  business  men  he  may  not  have 
found  all  the  days  equally  bright.  Indeed, 
in  his  commercial  experience  he  has  seen  the 
gathering  of  clouds  that  threaten  disaster, 
but  his  rich  inheritance  of  energy  and  pluck 
has  enabled  him  to  turn  defeats  into  victory 
and  promised  failures  into  brilliant  svic- 
cesses.  His  strict  integrity,  business  con- 
servatism and  judgment  have  been  so  uni- 
formly recognized  that  Mr.  Wolfe  has  en- 
joyed public  confidence  to  an  enviable  de- 
gree and  naturally  this  has  brought  him 
such  a  lucrative  patronage  that  through 
times  of  general  prosperity  and  general  ad- 
versity alike,  he  has  witnessed  a  steady  in- 
crease in  his  business  until  to-day  it  is  one 
of  the  most  flourishing  in  this  part  of  Knox 
county. 

Mr.  Wolfe  has  been  twice  married.     In 

1 88 1  he  wedded  Blanch  McKee,  who  died 

leaving  one  son,  Frank  L.     In  1895  he  was 

again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 

Edna  Ellis.    He  has  filled  some  local  offices, 

has  been  notary  public  since   1885   and  in 

that    year    was    appointed    postmaster    and 

again  in    1892   under  President   Cleveland. 

i       Altogether  his  service  as  postmaster  and  as- 

[       sistant    postmaster    has    covered     fourteen 

[       years,  and  his  public  service,  like  the  record 

1       of  his  business  career  and  his  private  life,  is 

I       alike  above  reproach.   For  nine  years  he  was 

I       township  clerk  and  in  his  political  views  he 

I       is  a  stanch  Democrat.     Fraternally  he  is  a 

;       member  of  Danville  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 

is  also  identified  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 

[       Camp  at  Howard.     He  holds  membership 

i       with  the  Christian  church,  in  which  he  is 


serving  as  clerk,  and  is  a  gentleman  of  up- 
right principles,  unfailing-  honor  in  business, 
of  uniform  kindness  and  courtesy  and  one 
who  has  high  regard  for  the  amenities  of 
life. 


JOHN  LEONARD. 

John  Leonard,  now  deceased,  was  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  of  Knox  county,  where 
he  located  when  this  portion  of  the  state  was 
a  wild  frontier  region  in  which  the  work  of 
progress  and  development  had  scarcely  been 
begun.  His  labors  added  to  the  general  ad- 
vancement and  improvement,  and  in  the 
passing  of  the  years  he  was  acknowledged 
to  be  one  of  the  most  valuable  representa- 
tives of  the  farming  interests  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Leonard  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Wash- 
ington county,  of  the  Keystone  state,  on  the 
28th  of  March,  1814.  His  education  was 
there  obtained  in  the  primitive  schools  of  the 
time,  and  through  the  summer  months  the 
work  oi  the  home  farm  claimed  his  attention. 
He  was  but  thirteen  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Knox  county  with  his  parents,  Sam- 
uel and  Phebe  (Logan)  Leonard,  who  en- 
tered a  large  tract  of  land  in  Morris  town- 
ship and  there  began  the  development  of  a 
farm.  Our  subject  shared  with  his  family  in 
all  the  hardships  and  trials  of  pioneer  life 
and  bore  his  share  in  the  arduous  task  of  re- 
claiming wild  land  for  purposes  of  civiliza- 
tion. Throughout  his  entire  life  he  carried 
on  general  farming  and  at  his  death  was  the 
owner  of  a  very  valuable  and  richly  improved 
tract  of  land  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  1866,  Mr.  Leonaid 
married  Miss  Harriet  Boudinot,  who  repre- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


sented  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  America, 
tracing  her  ancestry  back  to  the  French 
Huguenots,  who  sought  freedom  from  per- 
secution in  America  in  the  early  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century.  Three  brothers,  Elisha, 
Elias  and  John  Boudinot,  it  is  believed, 
crossed  the  Atlantic  in  the  Mayflower  in 
1620,  and  the  first  named  was  the  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Leonard  four  times  removed. 
Her  grandfather  also  bore  the  name  of  Elias. 
The  family  became  very  prominent  in  public 
afifairs  and  representatives  of  the  name  were 
associated  with  events  which  went  to  frame 
the  policy  of  the  nation.  An  uncle  of  Mrs. 
Leonard  was  Elias  Boudinot,  LL.  D.,  who 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  May 
2,  1740.  He  became  an  eminent  lawyer  and 
was  an  advocate  of  colonial  liberty.  In  1777 
congress  appointed  him  commissary  general, 
having  charge  of  provisions  for  the  army, 
and  the  same  year  he  was  elected  to  congress. 
He  becamie  president  of  that  body  in  1782 
and  the  following  year,  in  his  official  capac- 
ity, he  signed  the  treaty  of  peace  which  ended 
the  eight  years'  struggle  that  brought  inde- 
pendence to  the  nation.  Washington  made 
him  superintendent  of  the  mint  in  1796,  and 
he  filled  that  position  until  1805,  when  he 
resigned  and  retired  fro'm  public  life,  after 
a  career  of  public  usefulness  and  honor  that 
extended  over  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury. He  was  a  trustee  of  Princeton  College, 
to  which  he  gave  a  cabinet  of  natural  history 
specimens.  In  181 2  he  was  a  member  of  the 
American  board  of  commissioners  for  for- 
eign afifairs  and  missions,  and  in  18 16  was 
the  first  president  of  the  American  Bible  So- 
ciety, to  which  he  gave  very  liberal  dona- 
tions. He  was  one  of  the  first  writers  to 
favor  the  idea  that  American  Indians  were 
c  f  Jewish  origin,  to  which  end  he  published 


the  Star  of  the  West,  or  An  Effort  to  Dis- 
cover the  Lost  Tribes  of  Israel.  He  also 
published  the  Age  of  Infidelity,  and  other 
works  which  awakened  the  interest  of  the 
scientific  world.     He  died  in  1821. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Leonard  were  John 
and  Margaret  (Williams)  Boudinot.  Their 
daughter  was  born  in  Athens  county  May  3, 
184 1,  and  when  ten  years  old  accompanied 
her  parents  on  their  removal  to  Morris 
township,  Knox  county,  where  she  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  Her  maternal 
grandfather  was  William  Williams,  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Revolutionary  war,  who  enlisted 
from  Virginia,  in  which  state  Mrs.  Boudinot 
was  born.  John  Boudinot  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  in  1771  and  enlisted  from  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  for  service  in  the  war  of  1812, 
under  Captain  John  Whitney.  In  181 7  he 
removed  to  Ohio  and  there  he  and  his  wife 
spent  their  remaining  days.  They  became 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  namely:  Will- 
iam, deceased ;  Elias  R. ;  Tobias,  who  has 
also  passed  away ;  James,  deceased ;  Eliza, 
the  deceased  wife  of  Jacob  Walter;  John, 
who  has  been  called  to  his  final  rest ;  Sarah, 
the  wife  of  Josiah  Walter,  and  a  resident  of 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri;  George,  deceased; 
Henrietta,  the  wife  of  J.  E.  Fritz,  of  War- 
saw, Indiana;  and  Harriet,  who  completes 
the  family,  and  is  now  well  known  in  Knox 
county  as  the  honored  wife  of  Mr.  Leonard. 

At  the  time  of  her  marriage  she  went  to 
her  husband's  home  in  Morris  township  and 
there  they  lived  happily  for  many  years.  Mr. 
Leonard  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to 
general  farming  and  owned  and  operated' 
three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land, 
constituting  a  valuable  and  highly  im- 
proved tract.  He  was  industrious  and 
energetic,     and    his    capable    management 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


45 


made  him  one  of  the  pro-sperous  farmers 
of  his  locaUty.  His  fehow  townsmen, 
recognizing"  his  worth  and  abihty,  fre- 
quently cahed  him  to  pubHc  office.  He 
served  as  township  trustee  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  terms  was  supervisor,  discharging  his 
duties  in  a  manner  that  won  him  the  com- 
mendation of  ah  concerned.  He  co-operated 
in  all  movements  which  he  believed  would 
prove  of  general  good,  and  in  matter  oi  bus- 
iness and  private  concern  he  was  ever 
straightforward  and.  honorable,  command- 
ing the  respect  of  his  fellow  men  in  a  high 
measure.  He  passed  away  October  28,  1893, 
and  the  community  mourned  the  loss  of  one 
of  its  best  citizens,  while  in  the  household 
his  place  can  never  be  filled.  Mrs.  Leonard 
is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead,  where 
she  went  as  a  bride  many  years  ago.  Her 
excellent  qualities  have  gained  her  many 
friends. 


JAMES  WESLEY  COE. 

James  W.  Coe,  the  late  efficient  county 
infirmary  director,  is  descended  from  good 
old  Revolutionary  ancestry,  and  the  family 
has  long  been  one  of  prominence  in  this 
state.  His  paternal  great-grandfather,  Phil- 
ip Coe.  served  throughout  the  struggle  for 
independence,  and  he  also  assisted  in  throw- 
ing overboard  the  tea  into  the  Boston  har- 
bor. He  became  a  prominent  land  owner 
and  agent  in  Marshall  county.  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  there  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days.  He  became  the  father  of  two 
sons,  Isaac  and  Philip,  and  the  former  be- 
came the  grandfather  of  onr  subject.  He 
reared  a  family  of  fifteen  children,  who  set- 
tled over    different    parts    of    the    United 


States,  and  during  the  Civil  war  they  were 
represented  in  both  the  Confederate  and 
Federal  armies.  John  Coe,  the  father  of 
him  whose  name  introduces  this  review, 
served  with  distinction  throughout  the 
struggle  between  the  north  and  the  south, 
as  did  also  three  of  his  sons.  As  a  compan- 
ion for  the  journey  of  life  he  chose  Matilda 
a  daughter  of  John  Newland,  and  the  latter 
married  a  Van  Rensaellaer,  of  Wellington, 
Delaware. 

James  Wesley  Coe,  a  son  of  this  worthy 
couple,  removed  from.  West  Virginia  to 
Ohio  in  1866.  When  the  Civil  war  was 
inaugurated  he  was  then  but  a  lad  of  sev- 
enteen years,  but  he  nobly  offered  his  ser- 
vices to  his  country,  and  for  three  years  he 
was  a  brave  and  gallant  defender  of  the 
cause  which  he  esposed.  He  became  a 
member  of  Company  A,  Twelfth  West  Vir- 
ginia Infantry,  enlisting  for  service  in  1862, 
and  during  his  military  career  he  partici- 
pated in  twelve  regular  battles,  among  them 
being  the  battle  of  Appomattox.  For  a  time 
he  was  confined  as  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Lib- 
by  and  Belle  Island,  and  also  participated 
in  the  taking  of  Fort  Craig,  which  was  the 
last  fort  taken  during  the  war.  Mr.  Coe  is 
no'W  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  of  Mount  Vernon,  in  which  he 
maintains  pleasant  relations  with  his  old 
army  comrades. 

After  hostilities  had  ceased  Mr.  Coe  re- 
turned to  his  home  with  a  most  creditable 
military  record,  and  once  more  took  up  the 
quiet  duties  of  civil  life.  In  1870  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Jackson  township,  Knox 
county,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1886, 
and  in  that  year  he  came  tO'  Mount  Vernon, 
which  has  ever  since  been  his  home.  For 
twenty-two  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  op- 


46 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


eration  of  a  sawmiU,  on  the  expiration  of 
which  period,  in  1892,  he  was  elected  to  the 
position  of  director  of  the  county  infimiary, 
and  so  well  did  he  discharge  the  duties  rest- 
ing upon  him  in  that  office  that  in  1898  he 
was  again  elected,  and  has  but  recently 
closed  his  connection  with  that  institution. 
He  has  also'  filled  other  offices  of  trust  and 
responsibility,  having  been  the  choice  of  his 
party  for  the  position  of  trustee  of  Jack- 
son township  in  1884,  and  in  the  following 
year  he  was  made  constable  and  assessor  of 
that  township,  while  for  four  years  he 
served  as  school  director.  In  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life  he  has  been  found  true  to  every 
trust  rei.)OSfd  in  him,  and  he  merits  and  re- 
ceives the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who 
know  him. 

In  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  IMr.  Coe  and  Miss 
Sarah  Fry,  then  a  young  lady  of  twenty 
years,  and  two  years  his  junior.  She  is  a 
native  of  that  county  and  a  daughter  of 
William  Fry,  who  came  to  this  state  from 
Pennsylvania.  This  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children:  William,  a  mechanic 
of  Mount  Vernon,  and  whose  wife  was  Sa- 
rah Krumlauf ;  Alvaretta,  the  wife  of  Bruce 
Gleason,  also  of  this  city;  and  lonJt,  the  wife 
of  Bryant  Mann,  of  Mount  Vernon.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
church. 


ADAM   HIDER   DARfLING. 

Much  has  been  said  and  written  about 
the  sterling  stock  of  the  Old  Dominion  and 
its  influence  upon  the  settlement  and  devel- 
opment of  all  parts  of  the  United  States; 
but  the  half  has  never  been  told  and  nothing 
like  a  complete  story  ever  will  be  told  except 


in  the  aggregate  of  accounts  of  the  lives 
and  achievements  of  representatives  of  Vir- 
ginian families  in  every  state  of  the  Union. 
Ohio,  because  of  its  proximity  to  the  grand 
old  state  which  has  become  known  as  the 
"mother  of  presidents,"  has  received  a  gen- 
erous share  of  virile  Virginian  blood  and 
her  citizens  have  reason  to  congratulate 
themselves  because  of  that  fact.  Knox 
county  received  many  Virginian  pioneers 
and  among  them  was  the  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

Adam  H.  Darling,  a  retired  farmer,  of 
Bladensburg,  Jackson  township,  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Knox  county  on 
Christmas  day,  oi  1821,  a  son  of  Abrara 
Darling,  who  was  born  in  Virginia  March 
29,  1780,  and  came  to  Knox  county  with  his 
father,  William  Darling,  the  grandfather  of 
Adam  H.  Darling,  in  1806.  William  Darl- 
ing was  born  in  Virginia  in  1756  and  served 
the  cause  of  the  colonies  during  the  entire 
period  of  the  Revolutionary  war  as  a  gal- 
lant and  devoted  soldier,  participating  in 
many  historic  engagements,  including  those 
at  Cowpens  and  King's  Mountain. 

Abram  Darling,  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  bought  land  in  Butler  town- 
ship in  1806  and  when  he  became  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Knox  county.  He  was  married 
in  1808  to  Rhoda  Shrimplin,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Maryland  and  who  bore  him 
fourteen  children,  three  of  whom  died  in 
infanc}'  and  three  are  yet  living,  of  whom 
Adam  H.  is  the  third  in  order  of  nativity. 
These  children  were  named  as  follows : 
Sophia,  Patrick  M.,  Margaret,  William, 
Jane,  Lydia,  Adam  H.,  Mary,  Milan,  An- 
gus, Jackson,  Walter,  Amos  and  Caroline. 
Those  who  are  living  are  William,  Jackson 
and  Adam  H. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


Adam  H.  Darling  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Butler  township,  and  on  February 
25,  1843,  married  Martha  Strong,  who  was 
born  in  Maryland  August  i,  1824,  and  had 
been  brought  from  her  native  state  by  her 
parents,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers 
in  Knox  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darling 
have  had  born  to  them  twelve  children,  one 
of  whom  died  in  infanc)'.  The  names  of 
the  others  are  as  follows :  Telitha,  Thurza, 
Sullivan,  Grace,  Nink,  Patience,  Shrimplin, 
Charles,  Jackson,  Perry  and  George  W. 

In  1897  Mr.  Darling  sold  his  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  and  retired 
from  active  life.  As  a  Democrat  he  has 
taken  a  leading  part  in  public  affairs  and 
for  six  years  filled  the  office  of  trustee  of 
Jackson  township. 


ELI  JOHN  P.  TAYLOR. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  who  is  of  Eng- 
lish and  Scotch-Irish  aiicestry,  and  who  is 
an  old  and  respected  citizen  of  Clay  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Del- 
aware July  20,  1832.  Abraham-  Taylor,  his 
father,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  his 
ancestors  came  over  to  America  with  Will- 
iam Penn.  Mary  Murtick,  whoi  married 
Abraham  Taylor  and  was  Eli  John  P.  Tay- 
lor's mother,  was  born  of  Scotch-Irish  par- 
entage at  Wilmington,  Deleware.  She  was 
early  orphaned  and  was  reared  and  educated 
by  a  Mr.  Franklin,  of  Wilmington.  Abra- 
ham and  Mary  (Murtick)  Taylor  came  to 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  in  1837,  and  to 
Knox  county  about  1843,  locating  in  Jack- 
son township.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  two 


sons  and  the  daughters  are  living  at  this 
time.  Eli  John  P.  Taylor,  who  is  their 
youngest  son,  was  five  years  old  when  his 
parents  removed  from  Delaware  to  Coshoc- 
ton county,  Ohio,  and  eleven  years  old  when 
they  settled  in  Jackson  township,  Knox 
county.  His  father  died  in  his  seventy- 
fifth  year,  his  mother  in  her  ninety-second 
year. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  reared  in  Jackson  town- 
!  ship  and  educated  in  the  public  schools  near 
his  home.  He  was  married  June  2,  1864, 
to  Miss  Louisa  Fry,  who  was  born  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  September  9,  1844, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Huff- 
man) Fry.  Her  parents,  who  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  were  earlv  settlers  in  Ohio. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tay- 
lor lived  in  Jackson  township  until  1881, 
when  they  located  on  their  present  farm  in 
Clay  township,  which  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-two  acres,  well  equipped  in 
every  way  and  devoted  to  general  farming. 
Mr.  Taylor,  who  is  a  Democrat,  has  held 
several  local  offices  and  has  been  prominent 
as  a  member  of  the  township  board  of  edu- 
cation. His  religious  belief  led  him  to 
form  a  membership  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder  and  in  the 
work  of  which  he  has  been  active  and  effi- 
cient. 

Eli  John  P.  and  Elizabeth  (Fry)  Taylor 
are  the  parents  of  six  children,  who  are 
here  named  in  the  order  of  their  nativity: 
Laura  V..  who  married  Alonzo  Blue,  and 
resides  near  Mount  Vernon ;  Benjamin  F., 
who  married  Miss  Zora  Scott,  of  Jackson 
township;  Mary  E.,  who  married  Charles 
Blackburn,  residing  in  Clay  township;  Will- 
iam H.,  who  married  Felicia  Scott,  of  Perry 
township,    Coshocton    county ;    and    Abra- 


48 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


ham  Leroy  and  Allen,  who'  are  assisting  in 
the  operation  of  the  honie  farm.  WilUam 
H.  Taylor  now  owns  the  John  Trimble 
farm  in  Coshocton  county,  which  was  se- 
cured under  the  administration  of  James 
Madison. 


DWIGHT  E.  SAPP. 

Dwight  E.  Sapp  is  a  typical  representa- 
tive Qif  the  progressive  American  spirit 
which  has  wrought  such  a  rapid  and  won- 
derful development  in  this  country.  En- 
ergy, industry  and  a  laudable  ambition  form 
the  basis  of  his  career  and  have  proved  a 
strong  foundation  upon  which  to  rear  the 
superstructure  of  his  success.  He  is  not 
only  well-known  as  an  able  practicing  at- 
torney at  Mount  Vernon,  but  is  connected 
with  many  corporations,  which  not  only  re- 
turn good  dividends  to  the  stockholders  but 
are  also  of  value  to  the  communities  with 
which  they  are  connected. 

Mr.  Sapp  was  born  in  Mount  Vernon  in 
1863  and  is  a  son  of  William  C.  Sapp,  a 
retired  merchant  of  this  city.  His  paternal 
grandfather.  Levi  Sapp.  was  a  native  of 
Maryland  and  from  that  stale  emigrated 
westward  in  1805,  continuing  his  journey 
until  he  reached  Knox  county,  Ohio.  Here 
he  secured  a  tract  of  land  in  L'nion  town- 
ship, whereon  he  continued  to  engage  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  until  his  retirement  from 
business  life.  He  then  removed  to  Mount 
Vernon,  where  throughout  his  remaining 
days  he  enjoyed  a  well-earned  rest.  He  was 
an  active  pioneer  who  took  a  prominent  part 
in  the  early  development  and  improvement 
of  the  county,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  ad- 
vance its  interests.     In  his  business  afifairs 


he  was  also  energetic  and  resolute  and  be- 
came one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  the 
community.  He  wedded  Mary  Colopy,  of 
Union  township,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Colo- 
py, one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Knox 
county.  Unto  Levi  and  Mary  (Colopy) 
Sapp  were  born  ten  children,  namely  :  Will- 
iam C,  the  father  of  our  subject;  L.  W.,  a 
successful  practicing  physician  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  J.  A.,  who  served  as  a  surgeon  in 
the  Civil  war  and  is  now  a  physician  of  Sa- 
lina,  Ohio;  Julius  B.,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  and  is  now  prac- 
ticing dentistry  in  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Solo- 
mon, who  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  same 
war,  and  was  long  identified  with  the  United 
States  postal  service,  serving  as  postmaster 
of  Mount  Vernon  during  the  Harrison  and 
Cleveland  administrations ;  Amanda,  the 
wife  of  Dr.  F.  W.  Wernette,  of  Coshocton, 
Ohio;  Martha  P.,  wife  of  Colonel  L.  G. 
Hunt,  of  Mount  Vernon ;  Liicinda.  the  wid- 
ow of  John  Durbin,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Union  township,  Knox  county;  Sarah  A., 
widow  of  J.  W.  Bradfield.  an  ex-commis- 
sioner O'f  Knox  county:  and  George  Sapp, 
who  lives  on  the  old  home  place  in  Union 
township. 

William  C.  Sapp,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead 
in  Union  township  in  1828  and,  leaving  the 
farm,  became  identified  with  mercantile  in- 
terests in  Mount  Vernon  prior  to  i860.  He 
gave  close  attention  to  business  and  his  hon- 
orable policy  and  earnest  desire  to  please  se- 
cured to  him  a  liberal  patrongae,  which  he 
enjoyed  until  his  retirement  to  private  life 
in  1880.  He  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss 
Francis  P.  Sapp,  daughter  of  Dr.  Enoch 
Sapp,  who  for  many  years  was  a  practicing 
physician  of  Coshocton,  Ohio.     He  married 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


Ruth  Shaw,  a  daughter  of  one  oi  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Ohio,  who  came  from  Maryland. 
The  Doctor  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Sapp.  who 
laid  out  the  town  of  Danville,  Knox  county, 
which  was  named  in  his  honor.  He  was  a 
magistrate  of  the  county  for  many  years  and 
was  a  leading  and  influential  citizen  in  local 
affairs,  his  opinion  being  a  potent  force  in 
molding  public  thought  and  action.  In  ad- 
dition to  Dr.  Enoch  Sapp  his  children  were 
as  follows:  Major  William  R.  Sapp,  now 
deceased,  who  for  many  years  was  a  promi- 
nenty  attorney  of  the  count)^  and  also  held 
many  offices  of  public  trust,  being  internal 
revenue  collector  through  a  long  period, 
while  for  several  terms  he  also  represented 
his  district  in  congress;  John,  of  Knox 
coimty,  now  deceased,  who  was  the  father 
of  Colonel  William  F.  Sapp,  who  com- 
manded a  regiment  in  the  Civil  war  and  was 
afterward  for  several  terms  prosecuting  at- 
torney of  Knox  county,  whence  with  his 
wife,  a  daughter  o-f  Colonel  Brown,  he  re- 
moved to  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  where  for 
many  years  he  successfully  practiced  law 
and  for  a  number  of  terms  represented  his 
district  in  congress.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides 
the  Sapps  have  been  prominent  people  in 
whatever  communities  they  Lave  resided  and 
have  won  distinguished  honors  in  both  mili- 
tary and  professional  circles.  Dwight  E. 
Sapp  was  an  only  son,  but  has  a  sister,  Es- 
telle,  the  wife  of  William  E.  Fisher.  They 
formerly  resided  in  Mount  Vernon,  but  are 
now  living  in  London,  England. 

After     leaving     the     common     schools 
Dwight  E.  Sapp  continued  his  education  in 
i       Kenyon    College,    where    he    was    a    mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1884.     Leaving  college 
he  began  the  study  of  law  under  Colonel  W. 


C.  Cooper,  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  later  was 
a  student  in  the  law  office  of  the  firm  of  Mc- 
Clelland &  Culbertson,  attorneys  of  this  city. 
In  1887  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  the 
same  year  was  appointed  county  recorder, 
to  which  position  he  was  afterward  elected 
for  two  subsequent  terms,  serving  from  1888 
until  1894.  In  the  latter  year  he  began  the 
practice  of  law  alone  in  Mount  Vernon  and 
in  April,  1900,  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  H.  C.  Devin,  under  .the  firm  name  of 
Sapp  &  Devin.  They  have  a  large  clientage 
of  an  important  character  and  rank  high  at 
the  bar  of  Knox  county.  Mr.  Sapp  is  also 
connected  with  many  important  business 
concerns.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Knox  Na- 
tional Bank,  of  Mount  Vernon,  president  of 
the  Coshocton  Gas  Company,  counsel  for 
and  director  of  the  Millersburg,  Wooster 
and  Orrville  Telephone  Company,  director 
of  the  Hillsboro  Light  ,  Fuel  and  Power 
Company,  secretary  of  the  Central  Ohio 
Electric  Railway  Company  and  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Sunbury  &  Galena 
Telephone  Company.  He  has  done  much 
toward  the  development  of  the  gas  and  tele- 
phone industries  in  this  portion  of  the  state 
— two  branches  of  business  which  are 
widely  acknowledged  to  be  of  signal  import- 
ance and  benefit  to  the  communities  with 
which  they  are  connected. 

In  1895  Mr.  Sapp  married  Miss  Alice 
Evelyn  Thompson,  of  Mount  Auburn,  Cin- 
cinnati, a  daughter  of  Frank  and  Anna 
(Reakirt)  Thompson.  Her  father  was  for 
many  years  engaged  in  a  wholesale  business 
in  Cincinnati  and  during  his  life  occupied 
many  positions  of  public  trust.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  residents  of  Mount  Auburn.  His 
widow  is  still  living  and  is  a  representative 
of  an  old  and  prominent  family  of  that  por- 


so 


A    CEXTEXXIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


tion  of  the  state.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
LIrs.  Sapp  has  been  blessed  with  one  child, 
Allen.  The  warm-hearted  and  cordial  hos- 
pitality of  their  home  is  enjoyed  by  their 
many  friends  in  Mount  Vernon,  where  they 
are  widely  and  favorably  known.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Sapp  is  an  active  and 
earnest  Republican  and  socially  he  is  iden- 
tified with  the  IMasonic  fraternity.  Varied 
and  important  are  the  business  interests  to 
which  he  has  given  his  attention  and  the 
number  of  these  is  indicative  of  the  ability 
and  character  of  the  man — resolute,  deter- 
mined, far-sighted  and  with  strict  regard  to 
the  ethics  of  business  life.  He  is  a  valued 
factor  in  the  community  and  ranks  among 
the  leading  and  influential  citizens  of  the 
county  with  which  his  ancestors  have  been 
identified  from  the  beginning  of  the  nine- 
teenth centurv. 


LEAXDER  McCA:\IEXT. 

The  Masonic  order  has  many  members 
of  long  standing  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and 
there  is  none  o^f  them  who  is  more  widely 
known  or  more  highly  esteemed  than  Lean- 
der  ]\kCament,  an  undertaker  and  farmer 
of  Bladensburg,  Jackson  township,  who  by 
twenty-one  years  membership  may  be  said  to 
have  attained  to  his  majority  as  a  Mason. 
He  has  been  a  Knight  of  Pythias  since  1890, 
when  he  became  a  charter  member  of  his 
lodge.  He  is  not  without  considerable  local 
influence  politically  and  for  some  time  he 
ably  filled  the  office  of  constable  of  Clay 
township.  He  is  also  quite  well  known  in 
connection  with  the  work  of  the  Disciple 
church,  of  wliich  he  has  long  been  a  member. 


Leander  McCament  was  born  in  Jackson 
I  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  May  25, 
1850,  a  son  of  William  McCament,  a  mem- 
ber of  a  pioneer  family  in  Knox  county  and 
a  native  also  of  Jackson  township  who  was 
was  born  in  1824.  Samuel  McCament,  father 
of  William  and  grandfather  of  Leander  Mc- 
i  Cament,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
^  settled  in  Jackson  township  while  he  was 
]  yet  a  very  young  man.  William  McCament 
married  Marjory  VanWinkle,  who  was  born 
in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  in  1828,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Moses  VanWinkle,  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, who  bore  her  husband  nine  children, 
of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the 
second  in  order  oi  birth,  and  who  were 
named  as  follows :  George  H. ;  Leander ; 
Christian  W. ;  Martha  L. ;  Ella;  Mary; 
Lucy;  and  two  others  who  died  in  infancy. 
With  the  exception  of  Leander,  Martha  and 
Mary  are  the  only  ones  now  living. 

Leander  McCament  remained  with  his 
father  until  the  latter's  death  and  since  that 
time  has  been  farming  independently.     To 
his  farming  he  added,  in  1891,  the  business 
of  undertaking,  in  which  he  has  been  increas- 
ingly successful.     He  was  married  Decem- 
ber 22,  1873,  to  Miss  Hester  Murphy,  who 
was  burn  in  Ireland  January  29,  1854,  and 
who,  her  father  having  died  in  her  native 
land  was   brought  to  this   country  by  her 
grandparents  when  she  was  three  years  old. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCament  have  had  ten  chil-       j 
dren,  who  are  here  mentioned  in  the  order  of        I 
their  birth :  Alberta,  Lena,  Vincent,   Glen-       j 
ville,  Alonzo,  Blaine,  Nellie,  Claire  V.,  Anita       ; 
and  George.    Of  these  Anita  died  at  the  age       ' 
of  five  years ;  Alberta  is  the  wife  of  George       ; 
W.  Hays,  of  near  Gambler;  Lena  is  the  wife       j 
of  William  Hall,  of  Utica;  Vincent  is  with 
his  father;  Glenville  is  a  street  car  conduc-      , 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


tor  in  Cleveland;  Alonzo  is  a  student  in 
the  Valparaiso  Normal  School ;  Elaine  is  a 
bookkeeper  with  Swift  &  Company,  of  Chi- 
cago; and  Nellie  is  a  high  school  student 
and  is  at  home. 


EPHRAIM  M.  WINELAND. 

With  the  building  interests  of  Knox 
county  Ephraim  M.  Wineland  was  long  and 
actively  associated  and  in  many  of  the  sub- 
stantial buildings  of  the  community  are.  seen 
evidences  of  his  thrift  and  handwork.  He 
has  also  to  some  extent  followed  farming, 
but  now  he  is  living  a  retired  life,  enjoy- 
ing the  rest  which  should  come  to  one  as 
the  shadows  of  life's  evening  lengthens. 

Mr.  Wineland  was  born  in  Bedford  coun- 
ty, now  Blair  county,  Pennsylvania,  July 
27,  1827.  His  father,  Jacob  Wineland,  was 
born,  reared  and  married  in  that  locality  and 
about  1842  came  to  Kno-x  county,  locating 
in  Pike  township,  where  he  died  when  about 
forty  years  of  age.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Mock,  a  native  oi  Bedford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  died  in  Knox  county.  They  were 
the  parents  of  four  daughters  and  two  sons 
that  grew  to  mature  years  and  they  also  lost 
two  children  in  early  life.  In  taking  up  the 
personal  history  of  Ephraim  M.  Wineland 
we  present  to  our  readers  the  life  record  of 
one  who  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
this  county,  for  he  was  only  about  six 
months  old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Ohio,  where  he  has  since  lived.  When  a  boy 
he  pursued  his  education  in  a  log  school 
house  in  Pike  township  and  there  mastered 
the  common  English  branches  of  learning. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  had  attained 


his  majority  and  assisted  in  the  work  of  the 
fields,  early  becoming  familiar  with  all  de- 
partments of  farm  labor.  On  starting  out 
in  life  for  himself  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship to  the  carpenter's  trade,  his  term  of  in- 
denture covering  three  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  engaged  in  building  barns  and 
houses.  For  two  years  after  the  expiration 
oi  his  term  of  apprenticeship  he  remained 
with  his  employer  as  a  journeyman,  and  then 
began  contracting  and  building  on  his  own 
account.  He  was  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  and  he  followed  that  pursuit  for  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  during  which  time  he  erect- 
ed many  barns  and  residences  in  Fike  and 
other  townships.  In  1848  he  took  his  first 
contract — for  the  erection  of  a  house  for  Da- 
vid Long.  It  was  a  frame  structure  and  is 
still  standing  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
Pike  township,  being  occupied  by  Daniel 
Keller.  He  then  took  and  executed  a  con- 
tract for  the  building  of  a  house  for  George 
Wolford,  of  Brown  township.  H6  has 
erected  more  houses  and  barns  than  any 
other  contractor  in  Knox  county  and  is 
numbered  among  the  pioneer  carpenters 
here.  He  built  two  school  houses,  one  in 
Berlin  and  the  other  in  Pike  township  and 
during  the  most  of  the  time  he  employed  men 
to  assist  him  in  his  work.  To  a  limited  ex- 
tent he  yet  follows  his  chosen  vocation  but 
is  now  largely  living  retired.  He  also  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  connection  with  carpen- 
tering and  owns  the  land  upon  which  he 
now  resides.  He  has  always  remained  in 
this  county,  with  the  exception  oi  the  time 
he  has  spent  in  travel.  He  has  visited  many 
of  the  western  states,  going  as  far  as  the 
Black  Hills,  in  South  Dakota,  and  for  a 
short  time  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  Omaha, 
Nebraska,  and  in  other  places  in  the  west. 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


About  1848  Mr.  Wineland  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Harriet  Hedges,  and  of 
this  union  seven  children  have  been  born, 
namely:  Jane,  the  wife  of  Robert  Shira; 
Amanda,  who  married  Amsey  Horn;  Hir- 
am, who  is  living  in  Nodaway  county,  Mis- 
souri ;  Jefferson,  who  was  killed  when  about 
sixteen  years  of  age;  and  three  who  died  in 
childhood. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Wineland  has 
been  a  life  long  Democrat,  and  has  done  all 
in  his  power  to  promote  the  growth  and  in- 
sure the  success  of  his  party.  He  was  at 
one  time  township  treasurer,  serving  for 
seven  years,  and  has  also  been  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  but  refused  to  qualify.  He 
has  been  road  supervisor  and  has  ever  been 
found  a  faithful  public  officer,  prompt  and 
reliable  in  the  dicharge  of  his  duties.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  church 
and  his  has  ever  been  an  honorable  career. 
For  almost  seventy-five  years  he  has  lived 
in  Knox  county,  has  witnessed,  therefore, 
the  greater  part  of  its  development  as  it 
has  merged  from  the  wilderness  and  takes 
a  just  pride  in  what  has  been  accomplished 
here. 


CHARLES  W.  HENLEY. 

Charles  \V.  Henley  has  for  many  years 
resided  in  Knox  county,  where  he  is  well- 
known  as  a  leading  and  enterprising  farmer, 
his  home  being  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
Jefferson  township.  He  was  born  in  Ta}'- 
lorsville,  Muskingum,  county,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 3,  1848.  His  father,  Gregory  Henley, 
was  a  native  of  Germany  and  when  seven- 
teen years  of  age  came  alone  to  America, 
landing  at  New  York.     He  made  his  way 


to  Buft'alo  and  thence  to  Muskingum  coun- 
ty, where  he  was  married  and  took  up  his 
abode  in  Taylorsville.  He  was  a  cooper 
by  trade  and  also  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade  in  Germany.  The  year  1852  witnessed 
his  arrival  in  Knox  county  and  he  located 
on  the  farm  where  our  subject  now  resides. 
His  death  there  occurred  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic church,  being  identified  during  his  last 
years  with  Saint  Luke's  parish,  his  remains 
being  interred  in  Saint  Luke's  cemetery,  near 
Danville.  His  political  support  was  given 
the  Democracy,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
he  served  as  township  trustee.  He  married 
Barbara  Bosehart,  also  a  native  of  the  fath- 
erland, her  birth  having  occurred  on  the 
river  Rhine  in  the  kingdom  of  Baden.  She 
was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  she  came  to 
Amercia  with  her  parents,  who  located  in 
Taylorsville,  Ohio,  and  at  the  age  of  forty 
years  she  was  called  to  her  final  rest.  This 
worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children  who  are  now  living  and  seven  who 
have  passed  away. 

Charles  W.  Henley  was  the  sixth  of  this 
family  and  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth 
among  the  surviving  children.  He  was  only 
four  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Knox 
county  and  upon  the  home  farm  where  he 
now  resides  he  was  reared.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  and 
from  the  time  he  was  old  enough  to  handle 
the  plow  he  was  an  active  worker  in  the 
fields,  assisting  in  the  planting  and  in  the 
harvests.  Throughout  his  entire  life  he  has 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was 
married  February  8,  1872,  to  Miss  Frances 
E.  Giffen,  who  was  born  near  New  Castle, 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  April  26,  1849,  ^ 
daughter   of   Calvin   and   Lydia    (Darling) 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


53 


Giffen.  For  six  months  after  their  mar- 
riag-e  they  resided  on  the  Jacob  Ross  farm 
in  Union  townsliip,  and  while  tliere  Mr. 
Henlc}'  aided  in  digging  the  tirst  ceUar  in 
Buckeye  City.  He  afterward  removed  to  the 
John  Statts  farm  in  Jefferson  township, 
where  he  Hved  for  one  year  and  then  pur- 
chased forty- four  acres  adjoining  the  old 
homestead.  On  the  tract  which  he  bought 
he  made  his  home  until  his  father's  death, 
when  by  purchase  he  became  the  owner  O'f 
the  old  place  upon  which  his  childhood  days 
had  been  passed.  He  has  here  two  hundred 
and  two  acres,  all  under  cultivation,  and  is 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming.  For 
about  thirty  years  he  followed  school  teach- 
ing through  the  winter  seasons  in  Hanover 
township,  Ashland  county,  and  in  Howard 
and  Jefferson  townships  in  Knox  county 
He  was  well  known  as  an  educator  of  abil- 
ity, being  able  not  only  to  maintain  discipline 
but  to  impart  clearly  and  concisely  to  others 
the  knowledge  he  had  acquired. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henley  were  born 
nine  children,  of  whom  seven,  five  sons  and 
two  daughters,  are  yet  living,  namely  :  Ber- 
tha M.,  who  married  Joseph  Peters,  of  Rich- 
land county,  Ohio:  Gregory  P.,  who  resides 
with  his  wife,  Nora  Peters,  in  Howard  town- 
ship, Knox  county;  John  O.,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Doup,  who  is  now  deceased ;  Ber- 
nard, who  married  Nellie  Wolfe;  William 
and  Leo  F. ;  and  Florence,  at  home.  Two 
others  died  in  infancy,  a  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter. 

In  his  political  afiiliations  Mr.  Henley 
has  always  been  a  stanch  Democrat  and  for 
many  years  has  served  as  school  director, 
the  cause  of  education  finding  in  him  a 
warm  friend.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  Saints  Peter's  and  Paul's  Catholic 


church,  in  Loudenville,  Ohio,  and  through- 
out the  community  where  they  reside  they 
are  widely  and  favorably  known,  having 
many  warm  friends. 


WILLIAM  HARRISON  FRASHER. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  representa- 
tives of  insurance  interests  in  Knox  county, 
is  William  H.  Frasher,  yet  his  efforts  have 
not  been  confined  alone  to  his  business  af- 
fairs, for  he  has  ever  been  accounted  one  of 
those  progressive  citizens  whose  labors  are 
of  marked  benefit  to  the  communities  with 
which  they  are  connected.  He  endorses  ev- 
ery measure  advanced  for  the  general  good 
and  his  influence  in  behalf  of  education,  of 
material  and  moral  improvements  has  been 
most  marked. 

JMr.  Frasher  was  born  in  Brown  town- 
ship, this  county,  on  the  loth  of  June,  1854. 
On  the  paternal  side  he  is  of  Scotch  lineage, 
his  ancestors  having  come  to  America  at  an 
early  period  in  our  country's  history.  His 
grandfather,  Randolph  Frasher,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  whose  mother  was  a 
sister  of  John  Randolph,  of  Virginia,  one  of 
the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. Randolph  Frasher  resided  near  Mer- 
cer, Pennsylvania,  and  emigrating  westward 
cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  there  engaged  in 
farming.  His  son,  Henry  Frasher,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Middletown, 
Holmes  county,  Ohio-,  where  his  childhood 
and  youth  were  passed.  In  early  manhood, 
however,  he  came  to  Kuolx  county  and  took 
up  his  abode  in  Jelloway,  which  was  then 
known   as   Brownsville.      He   established   a 


54 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


tannery,  which  he  conducted  successfully 
from  1850  until  1864,  when  his  life's  labors 
were  ended  in  death.  He  passed  away  at 
the  age  of  forty-two  years.  He  was  a  pub- 
lic-spirited citizen,  doing  everything  in  his 
power  for  the  general  good,  yet  he  never 
sought  or  desired  political  office  as  a  re- 
ward for  party  fealty.  He  was  a  stanch 
Republican  who  warmly  endorsed  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  organization,  but  left  office 
seeking  to  others.  In  Ashland  county  he 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Buzzard,  a  native  of 
Nashville,  Holmes  county.  She  was  of 
Irish  and  German  descent  and  in  the  prim- 
itive schools  of  her  native  township  she  pur- 
sued her  education  and  afterward  engaged 
in  teaching  in  a  log  school  house,  such  as 
was  common  at  that  early  time.  She  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  leaving  many 
friends  to  mourn  her  loss.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frasher  became  the  parents  of  two  sons  and 
four  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living, 
the  eldest  being  W.  H.  Frasher,  of  this  re- 
view. The  other  members  of  the  family 
are:  Jubilee,  a  resident  of  Ashland,  who 
married  Sarah  Long,  a  daughter  of  Francis 
Long;  Dora,  the  wife  of  George  Rogers^  of 
Licking  county,  Ohio;  Ella,  the  wife  of  J. 
D.  Swacick,  of  Canton,  Ohio;  Celesta,  wife 
of  George  Watson,  of  Brown  township;  and 
Henrietta,  who  resides  with  her  brother,  W. 
H.  Frasher.  All  were  born  in  Jelloway, 
Brown  township,  and  the  members  of  the 
family  have  become  important  citizens  of 
various  communities. 

William  H.  Frasher,  of  this  review,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Jelloway,  where  he 
still  resides.  No  event  of  special  importance 
occurred  to  vary  the  routine  of  his  life  dur- 
ing the  period  of  his  minority.  He  became 
identified   with    the    insurance    business   in 


1876,  as  a  representative  of  the  Farmers' 
Home  Insurance  Company  at  Jelloway  and 
has  since  continued  in  this  line  of  activity. 
He  acted  as  local  agent  until  1880,  and  the 
following  }-ear  was  made  general  agent  for 
the  company,  serving  in  that  capacity  until 
1885.  During  the  three  succeeding  years  he 
resided  in  Van  Wert,  Ohio,  where  he  was  in 
partnership  with  J.  O.  Augustine,  in  the  in- 
surance business,  representing  fourteen  dif- 
ferent companies,  including  one  life,  two 
accident  and  eleven  fire  insurance  companies. 
In  1889  he  returned  tO'  Jelloway  on  account 
of  ill  health,  and  he  now  represents  the  Co- 
lumbia Insurance  Company,  of  Dayton;  the 
Insurance  Company  of  the  State  of  Illinois; 
The  Central  Manufacturing  Mutual  Com- 
pany, of  Van  Wert;  the  Ohio  Farmers  In- 
surance Company;  the  American  Accident, 
of  Chicago ;  and  is  district  agent  of  the 
Aetna  Life.  He  has  written  a  large  amount 
of  insurance  and  his  business  in  this  direc- 
tion is  annually  increasing.  He  has  the  en- 
tire confidence  of  the  companies  which  he 
represents  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  their 
most  capable  and  trusted  representatives  in 
this  portion  of  Ohio.  He  also  has  charge 
of  two  farms,  one  in  Brown  township,  Knox 
county,  and  the  other  in  Ashland  county, 
aggregating  two  hundred  acres  and  consti- 
tuting the  Frasher  estate. 

Mr.  Frasher  is  classified  among  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  his  native  county  and  is  es- 
pecially prominent  in  behalf  of  the  best  in- 
terests in  Jelloway,  where  he  is  now  serving 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  In  con- 
nection with  Mr.  Hyatt,  he  was  instrumen- 
tal in  establishing  the  public  school  system 
at  this  place  and  has  ever  taken  an  active 
part  in  advancing  the  cause  of  education 
here.      He  is    a    charter    member    of    the 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


Knights  of  Maccabees  in  Jelloway,  and  in 
his  poHtical  views  he  is  a  stanch  Republican. 
His  value  as  a  man  and  citizen  is  widely  ac- 
knowledged, and  in  many  ways  he  has  left 
the  impress  of  his  individuality  for  good 
upon  the  public  welfare  of  his  native  town. 


MILTON  M.  CUNNINGHAM. 

M.  M.  Cunningham  is  a  prominent  old 
settler  of  central  Ohio  now  living  on  section 
12,  Pike  township,  Knox  county.  The  fam- 
ily is  of  Irish  lineage  and  was  founded  in 
America  by  Mathew  Cunningham,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  married  in  the  Emerald 
Isle,  after  which  he  made  a  home  in  the  new 
world.  His  son,  Mathew  Cunningham,  Jr., 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  also  born  in 
Ireland  and  when  a  small  boy  accompanied 
his  parents  on  the  voyage  across  the 
broad  sea,  the  family  locating  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  was  reared.  When 
a  yoimg  man  he  removed  tO'  \\'"a)'ne 
county  and  there  wedded  Ary  Minta  Glas- 
gow, a  native  of  the  Keystone  state,  who 
with  her  parents  removed  to  Wayne  county. 
Both  the  husband  and  wife  were  born  in 
the  same  year  and  died  in  the  same  year,  at- 
taining the  age  of  seventy-five.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  on  the  farm  in  Wayne 
county,  and  about  1840  removed  to  Holmes 
county,  locating  near  Nashville.  Subse- 
quently they  came  to  Knox  county  and  set- 
tled upon  the  farm  where  our  subject  now 
lives,  there  spending  their  remaining  days. 
They  were  consistent  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  taking  an  active  part  in  its 
work,  and  Mr.  Cunningham  served  as  one 
of  its  elders.     Politically  he  was  a  life-long 


Demi)crat,  and  for  twenty-one  years  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Knox  township, 
Holmes  county.  While  in  Knox  county  he 
filled  the  same  ofiice,  discharging  his  duties 
in  a  most  faithful  and  impartial  manner — 
a  fact  thus  indicated  by  his  long  continu- 
ance in  the  position.  He  was  also  township 
trustee  and  assessor,  and  over  the  record  of 
his  public  career  and  his  private  life  there 
fell  nO'  shadow  of  wrong  or  suspicion  of 
evil.  His  wife,  in  the  more  quiet  circles  of 
home  life,  exercised  an  influence  no'  less  po- 
tent for  good.  She  reared  her  family  of 
three  sons  to-  become  honorable  and  upright 
men.  They  are :  Eli,  who  now  resides  in 
Pike  township;  Allen,  w^ho  is  living  in  Mar- 
ion county,  Iowa;  and  the  Squire,  who  was 
the   second   in    order   oif   birth. 

Squire  Cunningham  was  only  five  years 
of  age  when  the  family  removed  to  Holmes 
county,  and  when  a  young  man  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Knox  county.  His  prelimin- 
ary education,  acquired  in  the  district 
schools,  was  supplemented  by  study  in  the 
Nashville  select  school,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage  he  located  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives  and  where  he  has  since  de- 
voted his  energies  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil.  He  has  one  hundred  and  forty-two 
acres  of  rich  land  and  annually  the  fields 
return  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  reward  for 
his  care  and  labor.  In  his  farming  meth- 
ods he  is  progressive  and  enterprising,  and 
his  efforts  have  gained  for  him  a  richly 
merited  competence. 

Mr.  Cunningham  was  married  Novem- 
ber 3,  1861,  to  Miss  Jane  Armstrong,  a  na- 
tive of  Brown  township,  Knox  county,  and 
a  daughter  of  James  and  Ann  (Dunbar) 
Armstrong.  Their  daughter  is  Ary  Minta, 
the  wife  of    Squire  Fletcher,  a    prominent 


56 


A    CEXTEXXIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


farmer.  They  reside  upon  a  part  of  her 
father's  farm  and  they  now  ha\-e  four  inter- 
esting children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cunningham  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  fratern- 
ally he  is  identified  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Democrat  where  state  and  national  ques- 
tions are  involved,  but  at  local  elections,  he 
supports  the  man  whom  he  thinks  best  quali- 
fied for  office  regardless  of  party  affiliations. 
In  1891  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
and  has  since  served  in  that  capacity.  He  is 
most  true  and  loyal  to  the  public  interests 
reposed  in  him,  and  his  official  record  is  one 
without  blemish.  For  almost  forty  years  he 
has  resided  upon  the  farm  which  is  yet  his 
home,  and  throughout  the  community  he  is 
widely  known  as  a  gentleman  of  sterling 
worth  and  unimpeachable  integrity. 


REV.  L.  \V.  ^lULHAXE. 

Rev.  Lawrence  William  Mulhane  is  the 
pastor  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul's  Catholic 
church,  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  during  the 
si.xteen  years  of  his  connection  with  the 
parish  his  labors  have  resulted  greatly  to 
the  benefit  of  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his 
parishioners  and  to  the  growth  of  the 
church  and  the  extension  of  its  influence. 
A  native  of  Massachusetts,  he  was  born 
February  21,  1856,  and  is  the  eldest  child  of 
Dennis  and  Mary  Mulhane.  He  was  but  a 
boy  when  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  lo- 
cating in  Marietta,  where  the  family  have 
since  resided.  He  pursued  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  until  twelve  years  of 
age  and  then  entered  Marietta  Academv  in 


order  to  prepare  for  admission  to  Marietta 
College.  He  was  but  fourteen  years  of 
age  when  he  matriculated  in  the  latter  in- 
stitution, being  the  youngest  student  that 
ever  entered  the  freshman  class  of  that  his- 
toric college.  In  1871  and  again  in  1872 
he  was  honored  by  a  place  upon  the  list  of 
public  declaimers,  receiving,  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  the  second  college  prize  for  oratory. 
Rev.  ]Mulhane  began  preparation  for  the 
Catholic  ministry  in  September,  1872.  when 
on  the  invitation  of  the  late  Bishop  Rose- 
crans  he  entered  St.  Aloysius  Seminary,  in 
Columbus,  Ohio,  then  presided  over  by  Dr. 
Gallagher,  now  bishop  of  Galveston.  Here 
he  remained  for  four  years,  taking  a  one 
year's  course  in  philosophy  and  three  in 
theology-.  In  1876  he  became  a  member 
of  Bishop  Rosecrans'  household,  and  by 
private  study  began  to  prepare  for  admis- 
sion to  the  famous  college.  Propaganda  de 
Fide,  in  Rome,  Italy.  The  death  of  his 
friend,  the  bishop,  changed  his  plans  and 
not  being  yet  of  the  required  age  for  the 
priesthood  he  remained  at  the  Episcopal 
house,  in  the  meantime  writing  for  the 
Catholic  Columbian  until  X^ovember  7, 
1879,  when  he  was  ordained  to  the  Catholic 
priesthood  by  the  late  Archbishop  Purcell. 
He  was  immediately  assigned  to  duty  as 
assistant  rector  of  St.  Joseph's  Cathedral, 
in  Broad  street,  Columbus.  The  following 
year,  1880,  when  Bishop  Watterson  was  ap- 
pointed bishop  of  Columbus,  Father  Mul- 
hane was  chosen  by  him  as  secretary  and 
chancellor  of  the  diocese,  a  position  of  much 
care  and  responsibility.  He  held  this  office 
for  five  years.  On  the  ist  of  October,  1885, 
he  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  St.  Vin- 
cent de  Paul's  parish  of  Mount  Vernon. 
He   found  the  finances  of  the  parish   in  a 


jC.)l-.^^cMicU.t 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


critical  condition  and  at  once  began  the  task 
of  paying  off  the  debt.  This  he  accom- 
plished by  the  generous  aid  of  the  parish- 
ioners in  exactly  seven  years.  On  the  ist  of 
October,  1892,  all  of  the  old  debt,  incurred 
previous  to  his  coming,  amounting  to  nearly 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  was  wiped  out. 
Besides  this  he  improved  the  church  to  the 
value  of  three  thousand  dollars  and  has  car- 
ried on  the  work  untiringly  along  many 
lines,  so  that  it  has  become  a  very  strong 
church,  taking  a  leading  position  in  the 
diocese. 

The  town  of  Mount  Vernon  was  found- 
ed in  the  year  1805  and  four  years  later  the 
first  Catholic  resident  took  up  his  abode 
here.  The  first  mass  ever  said  in  Mount 
Vernon  was  celebrated  by  Bishop  Purcell, 
May  23,  1834,  at  the  house  of  David  Mor- 
ton, a  zealous  advocate  of  the  faith.  The 
next  visit  of  the  bishop  was  made  in.  the 
year  1836  and  was  held  in  what  was  known 
as  the  Banning  church.  Judge  Anthony 
Banning,  who  was  also  a  Protestant  minis- 
ter, erected  a  small  chapel  or  church  on  his 
land.  He  was  an  extremely  liberal  man 
and  while  he  held  tenaciously  to  his  religious 
views  he  accorded  to  others  the  same  right, 
and  when  the  churches  and  even  the  court- 
house of  the  town  was  closed  tO'  Bishop  Pur- 
cell he  offered  his  church,  and  Catholic  ser- 
vices were  therein  held  and  the  first  Catholic 
sermon  preached  in  the  town.  For  many 
years  after  this  mass  was  said  in  the  home 
of  David  Morton  by  the  priest  who  occasion- 
ally visited  the  growing  flock.  The  number 
of  Catholic  families  here  steadily  increased, 
and  priests  who  visited  Danville  also  came 
to  Mount  Vernon  until  Father  Lamy  was 
appointed  pastor  of  St.  Luke's  in  Danville, 
in  the  fall  of  1839,  with  charge  of  Mount 


Vernon,  and  was  urged  by  the  Bishop  to 
begin  a  church  here  as  soon  as  feasible.  In 
July,  1842,  the  telegraph  announced  "that 
the  church  at  IMount  Vernon  is  in  course  of 
erection,  Rev.  Lamy  in  charge."  It  was  a 
small  brick  edifice  and  had  been  roofed  and 
plastered  when  a  fire  broke  out  there,  de- 
stroying everything  but  the  bare  walls, 
which  were  partially  damaged.  After  ai 
time  work  was  resumed,  and  the  new  church 
of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  was  dedicated  Sun- 
day, October  14,  1849.  The  pastor  at  Dan- 
ville also  had  charge  of  the  church  of  Mount 
Vernon  until  September,  185 1,  when  Rev. 
Julius  Brent  was  given  charge  of  the  mis- 
sions of  Knox  county  and  here  he  labored 
until  his  death,  a  period  of  nearly  thirty 
years.  He  was  pastor  of  both  Danville  and 
Mount  Vernon  until  1874,  at  which  time 
he  gave  up  St.  Luke's  church  and  devoted 
his  remaining  years  to  St.  Vincent  de  Paul's. 
In  1855  the  present  brick  parochial  residence 
was  built,  in  1862  an  addition  was  made  to 
the  church  and  in  1872  a  neat  two-story 
frame  school  house  was  erected  and  a  par- 
ochial school  opened  there  in  September, 
1873.  From  the  death  of  Father  Brent  in 
1880  until  September,  1885,  Father  Lane 
was  pastor  and  was  then  succeeded  by 
Father  Mulhane,  whose  service  here  now 
covers  more  than  sixteen  years,  takings 
charge  on  the  ist  of  October,  1885.  His 
work,  carried  on  unceasingly,  has  been  of 
a  nature  that  has  greatly  extended  the  in- 
fluence of  the  church.  In  addition  to  the 
material  improvements  he  has  made  in  the 
church  property  that  have  already  been  men- 
tioned, he  erected,  in  1890,  the  new  school' 
building  at  a  cost  of  ten  thousand  dollars,, 
complete  with  all  modern  equipments  and 
having  an  enrollment  of  more  than  two  hun- 


S8 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


dred  pupils.  There  are  over  one  thousand 
parishioners,  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
families  and  seven  hundred  communicants. 
The  different  societies  of  the  church  are  in 
good  working  order  and  Father  Mulhane 
has  the  love  and  co-operation  of  his  par- 
ishioners in  an  unusual  degree.  As  a 
speaker  he  is  clear  and  logical  and  his  pow- 
ers of  oratory  are  of  a  high  order.  He  is 
also  a  writer  of  merit  and  ability  and  has 
contributed  largely  to  church  and  periodi- 
cal publications.  Over  fifteen  years  he  has 
made  a  study  of  leprosy  and  the  work  of  the 
church  in  behalf  of  those  afflicted  people. 
In  1896  he  published  a  book  on  the  subject, 
which  attracted  wide  attention.  He  has  la- 
ibored  earnestly  to  induce  congress  to  es- 
tablish a  national  home  for  lepers  and  in 
January,  1900,  he  visited  Cuba  and  spent 
a  month  there,  making  a  special  study  of 
leprosy.  The  result  of  his  investigations 
'  was  given  to  the  world  in  an  article  in  Don- 
ohue's  Magazine,  which  was  largely  re'ad' 
and  commended.  He  has  also  written  works 
■on  the  life  of  General  Rosecrans  and  also 
•of  Hon.  Frank  Hurd,  a  native  of  Mount 
Vernon  and  a  distinguished  Ohio  states- 
man. 


HON.  JOSEPH  C.  DEVIN. 

On  the  judicial  and  political  history  of 
Knox  county  Joseph  Chambers  Devin  has 
carved  his  name  deeply  and  it  is  interwoven 
with  records  which  indicate  the  high- 
minded  and  patriotic  statesman,  the  loyal 
citizen,  the  capable  lawyer  and  the  man  of 
upright  principles.  More  than  half  a  cen- 
tury has  passed  since  he  arrived  in  Mount 
Vernon  and  for  fifty  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  bar  of  Knox  countv. 


Mr.  Devin  was  born  in  Waterford, 
Washington  county,  Ohio,  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Harriet  (Chambers)  Devin,  the  former 
a  native  of  Maryland  and  the  latter  of  Penn- 
sylvania. His  mother  was  a  sister  of  Da- 
vid Chambers,  who  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  carried  dispatches  from  General  Lee  to 
General  Washington  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  He  afterward  resided  at  Zanesville, 
Ohio.  In  the  year  1830  the  parents  of  our 
subject  removed  to  McConnellsville,  Mor- 
gan county,  this  state,  where  he  attended 
school  until  1836,  when  the  family  went  to 
Medina  county.  When  a  youth  of  fifteen  he 
entered  Norwalk  Academy,  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  entered  his  father's 
store  and  served  there  as  salesman  for  two 
years.  In  1846  he  matriculated  in  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University,  at  Delaware,  the 
school  being  then  under  the  presidency  of 
Bishop  Edward  Thompson,  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church.  In  1848  he  was 
graduated  in  Tundry's  Commercial  College, 
in  Cincinnati,  and  in  the  winter  of  1849  ^H" 
g^aged  in  teaching  a  commercial  college  in 
Seville,  Ohio. 

It  was  in  the  year  1849  that  Mr.  Devin 
began  the  study  of  law  in  Mcamt  Vernon, 
under  the  direction  of  Columbus  Delano  and 
William  R.  Sapp,  and  after  continuing  his 
reading  for  about  two  years  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1851.  The  following  year  he 
began  practice  in  this  city,  in  partnership 
with  Hosmer  Curtis,  a  pioneer  legal  prac- 
titioner at  this  place,  with  whom  he  was  con- 
nected until  1857,  when  Mr.  Curtis  removed 
to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  the  relationship  was 
accordingly  terntjnated.  In  1858  he  entered 
into  partnership  with  Samuel  Israel.  At  a 
later  date  he  was  associated  with  his  brother- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


in-law,  Henry  L.  Curtis,  and  the  firm  gained 
marked  prestige  among  the  leading  lawyers 
at  the  Knox  county  bar. 

Mr.  Devin  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
Whig  party,  his  father  being  an  advocate  of 
its  principles,  and  as  he  neared  his  majority, 
he,  too,  endorsed  its  platform,  but  when  its 
strength  was  on  the  wan  and  new  issues  gave 
rise  to  the  Republican  party  he  joined  its 
ranks,  became  one  of  its  leading  represent- 
atives in  Ohio  and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
national  Republican  convention  in  Philadel- 
phia, which  nominated  Fremont  for  the 
presidency  in  1856.  In  1863  he  was  elected 
to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  senate. 
In  1862  this  district,  comprising  Knox,  Mor- 
row, Wayne  and  Holmes  counties,  had  given 
a  majority  of  thirty-two  hundred  against  the 
Republican  party,  but  in  the  interval  which 
had  elapsed  its  strength  had  been  greatly 
augmented  and  the  personal  popularity  and 
the  confidence  reposed  in  the  ability  of  Mr. 
Devin  were  also  strong  elements  in  the  vic- 
tory of  1863.  He  served  on  a  number  of 
important  committees  in  the  senate  and  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  benevolent 
institutions.  A  ripe  scholar,  a  good  speaker 
and  above  all  a  patriotic  citizen,  he  proved 
a  very  valuable  member  of  the  upper  house 
of  the  Ohio  assembly.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  advocated  on  the  public  platform 
his  party's  interests  in  Knox  and  other  coun- 
ties during  each  campaign. 

In  1859  Mr.  Devin  was  married  to  Miss 
Ella  I.  Curtis,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Henry 
B.  Curtis,  now  deceased,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  volume.  They  have 
two  surviving  children,  Henry  C,  a  well- 
known  attorney  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  Eliz- 
abeth D.,  the  wife  of  William  H.  Pratt, 
general  manager  of  the  structural  depart- 


ment   of    the    Illinois    Steel    Company,    in 
Chicago. 

Such  is  the  brief  history  of  one  whose 
career  has  been  a  long  and  useful  one.  Mr. 
Devin  is  now  the  oldest  living  member  of 
the  Knox  county  bar,  but  he  lias  retired  from 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession. 


HENRY  CURTIS  DEVIN. 

Much  has  been  written  concerning  the 
power  of  environment  and  of  hereditv  in 
shaping  the  course  of  the  individual  and 
while  both  may  have  had  their  effect  upon 
the  career  oif  Mr.  Devin  in  his  choice  of  the 
legal  profession  as  a  life  work,  yet  no  mat- 
ter what  one's  inherited  tendencies  or  tal- 
ent, such  at  best  is  merely  a  latent  element 
and  must  feel  the  awakening  touch  of  eft'ort 
to  be  of  avail  in  this  busy  world.  Although 
surrounded  by  a  legal  atmosphere  and  with 
the  example  of  an  illustrious  grandfather 
and  father  to  stimulate  him,  Henry  Curtis 
Devin  has  nevertheless  had  to  place  his  de- 
pendence upon  his  intellectual  power,  stead- 
fast application  and  unremitting  study  to 
secure  success — and  he  has  secured  it,  being 
now  recognized  as  one  of  the  strong  mem- 
bers of  the  Knox  county  bar. 

He  was  born  in  Mount  Vernon,  March 
27,  1868,  a  son  of  Joseph  Chambers  and 
Ella  I.  (Curtis)  Devin,  oif  whom  mention 
is  made  on  a  preceding  page.  In  the  pub- 
lic schools  he  obtained  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation, which  was  supplemented  by  a  course 
in  Kenyon  College,  in  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Philoso- 
phy in  1888,  and  after  taking  post  graduate 
work  his  alma  mater  conferred  upon  him 


6o 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


the  degree  of  ]\Iaster  of  Arts.  He  read  law 
under  the  guidance  of  his  father,  and  in 
1893  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  began  practice  in  his  native  city, 
entering  into  partnership  with  the  Hon.  H. 
D.  Critchfield,  who  was  appointed  general 
counsel  for  the  United  States  and  Federal 
Telephone  Companies,  at  Cleveland  in 
1900.  at  which  time  their  business  relation 
was  terminated.  Mr.  Devin  then  became 
a  partner  of  D.  E.  Sapp,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Sapp  &  Devin  and  thus  the  firm 
stands  to-day.  He  is  enjoying  a  large  law 
practice  and  is  also  connected  with  several 
important  business  enterprises,  being  secre- 
tary of  the  Mount  Vernon  Telephone  Com- 
pany, vice-president  of  the  Millersburg  Elec- 
tric Light  Company,  a  director  of  the  Mount 
Vernon  Gas  Light  Company  and  a  direc- 
tor of  the  Sunbury  &  Galena  Telephone 
Company.  His  business  ability  proves  a 
desired  factor  in  the  successful  control  of 
these  organizations. 

Mr.  Devin  was  united  in  marriage  to 
iNIiss  Fannie  E.  Marsh,  of  Indianapolis,  In- 
diana, a  daughter  of  Major  F.  E.  Marsh, 
vice-president  of  the  Interstate  Life  Insur- 
ance Company.  They  have  two  children — 
Fletcher  M.  and  Elizabeth  Curtis,  aged  re- 
spectively five  and  two  years.  Mr.  Devin 
is  a  very  prominent  Mason  and  has  filled  the 
presiding  chair  in  all  the  Masonic  bodies  in 
Mount  Vernon,  with  the  exception  of  the 
,  commandery,  in  which  he  is  now  serving  as 
generalissimo.  He  is  also  connected  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Benevolent, 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  His  life  is  in 
harrruony  with  the  fraternal  teachings  of 
those  orders.  He  is  also  a  high  type  of  the 
business  man  of  the  times — alert,  enterpris- 
ing and  progressive,  quick  to  note  and  im- 


prove an  opportunity  and  with  laudable  am- 
bition advancing  his  interests  along  legiti- 
mate lines. 


ARTHUR  C.  CASSELL. 

The  prominent  citizen  of  Morris  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Ohio,  whose  name  is  the 
title  of  this  sketch,  is  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  in  his  vicinity.  He  was  bom  on 
the  farm,  where  he  now  lives,  in  Morris 
township,  March  15,  185 1,  a  son  of  Bascom 
S.  and  Emeline  Augusta  (Norton)  Cassell 
and  a  grandson  of  George  and  Sarah  (Nel- 
son) Cassell.  George  Cassell  was  a  son  of 
John  Cassell,  who  was  born  in  Maryland 
and  died  there  at  a  ripe  old  age.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Nelson  and  they  had  children, 
as  follows :  Bascom'  S. ;  Sarah,  who  mar- 
ried John  Lamb ;  and  John  Nelson,  who  mar- 
ried Jennie  Staggers  and  lives  at  Aurora, 
Nebraska.  Captain  John  Nelson  Cassell 
raised  a  company  for  the  Twentieth  Regi- 
ment of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  and  was 
in  nearly  every  engagement  in  which  that 
body  participated.  Bascom  S.  Cassell  was 
born  in  Maryland  October  9,  1824,  and  was 
brought  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  at  the  age 
of  twelve  years,  and  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life  lived  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
died  January  10,  190 1.  He  was  an  enter- 
prising farmer  and  business  man  and  was 
well  versed  in  the  living  topics  of  his  day. 
Politically  he  was  a  strong  Republican  and 
he  wielded  much  influence  in  his  community 
and  held  numerous  township  offices.  He 
was  an  ardent  member  of  the  Mount  Ver- 
non Congregational  church.  In  the  closing 
years  of  his  life  he  often  referred  to  the 
primitive  schools  of  Knox  county,  in  which 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


he  received  his  early  education,  and  in  which 
he  was  a  teacher  for  several  terms.  He  mar- 
ried Emeline  Augusta  Norton,  who  bore 
him  the  following  named  children:  Ar- 
thur Charles;  Mary,  at  home;  and  Gertrude, 
who  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Knox  county  and  at  Oberlin  College,  at 
which  institution  she  was  graduated  with 
high  honors.  She  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  New- 
ton W.  Bates,  a  Congregational  minister, 
her  classmate  in  Oberlin,  and  now  located 
at  West  Bloomfield,  New  York.  The 
mother  died  February  7,  1897. 

Arthur  Charles  Cassell  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  also  at  Mount  Vernon 
College  and  at  Oberlin.  He  chose  agricul- 
tural pursuits  for  his  vocation  and  soon  de- 
veloped into  a  progressive,  up-to-date  farm- 
er. He  is  an  active  member  of  Green  Val- 
ley Lodge  of  Grangers,  in  which  he  has 
taken  a  deep  interest  since  his  identification 
with  that  body.  As  a  Republican  he  takes 
a  leading  part  in  local  politics.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church  of 
Mount  Vernon.  December  2,  1892,  he  mar- 
ried Eva,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  William 
and  Sarah  Jane  (Hoke)  Vohl,  who  has 
borne  him  three  children,  whom  they  named 
GeoTge  Leland,  Charles  Howard  and  Dor- 
othy Anetta.  Frederick  William  Vohl  was 
born  in  Germany  November  5,  1832.  When 
he  was  nineteen  years  of  age  he  set  sail  for 
American  soil  and  in  1851  settled  in  Knox 
county,  Ohio.  He  was  a  butcher  by  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  many  years  in  Mount 
Vernon.  Early  in  life  he  became  a  Mason, 
and  later  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Red 
Men.  He  is  past  grand  in  Lodge  No.  20, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of 
Mount  Vernon,  and  represented  that  body  in 
the  grand  lodge  of  the  state.     He  now  lives 


on  a  farm  in  Clinton  township.  The  Cas- 
sell farm,  now  consisting  of  two  hundred 
and  fourteen  acres,  was  secured  by  George 
Cassell,  who  owned  several  hundred  acres, 
and  here  spent  his  life,  dying  at  about  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years.  He  built  the  pres- 
ent basement  barn  about  sixty  years  ago. 
The  old  residence  erected  by  Bascom  Cassell 
was  burned  some  years  since,  after  which 
he  erected  the  present  one.  Sarah  J.  Hoke, 
who  became  his  wife,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  died  when  Mrs.  Cassell  was  a 
small  child. 


FRANKLIN  HARPER. 

Franklin  Harper,  who  has  long  been  a 
representative  of  the  journalistic  interests  of 
Knox  county,  was  born  in  Mount  Vernon 
April  18,  1858.  His  father,  the  Hon.  Lecky 
Harper,  was  for  forty  years  editor  of  the 
Mount  Vernon  Banner.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  learned  the  printing  business  in  his 
father's  office  and  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Mount  Vernon,  being  gradu- 
ated in  1877.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of 
Colonel  W.  C.  Cooper  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1879.  The  following  year  he 
opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, but  in  June,  1882,  an  opportunity 
was  offered  him  to  enter  the  newspaper  bus- 
iness, a  strong  taste  for  which  he  inherited, 
and  he  went  to  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  where  he 
became  a  partner  of  George  F.  Hunter  in 
the  publication  o-f  the  Chillicothe  Advertiser. 

While  residing  there,  on  the  5th  of  June, 
1890,  Mr.  Harper  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Bertha  Hanby,  of  Chillicothe,  by 
which  union  two  sons  have  been  born,  Don- 
ald and  Kenneth. 


62 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


Upon  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1895, 
Mr.  Harper  sold  his  interest  in  the  Chilh- 
cothe  Advertiser  and  returned  to  Mount 
Vernon  in  November  of  that  year,  forming 
a  partnership  with  his  brother,  William  H. 
Harper,  in  the  publication  of  The  Banner, 
which  partnership  was  terminated  in  June, 
1896,  by  the  retirement  of  his  brother.  The 
Banner  had  been  published  as  a  weekly  paper 
until  June  20,  1898,  when  Mr.  Harper  be- 
gan the  issue  of  daily  and  semi-weekly  pa- 
pers, which  have  so  continued. 

Mr.  Harper  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
bodies  and  the  Elks,  being  a  past  exalted 
ruler  of  the  latter  and  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Masonic  Temple 
Company.  He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  Mount 
Vernon  Board  of  Trade.  In  politics  Mr. 
Harper  is  a  Democrat  and  has  taken  an  ac- 
tive and  prominent  part  in  the  councils  of 
his  party,  but  has  never  held  a  public  office. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
state  committee  of  Ohio  several  times,  and 
was  a  delegate  from  the  fourteenth  Ohio 
district  to  the  Democratic  national  conven- 
tion in  1896. 


COLUMBUS  EWALT. 

In  professional  career  advancement  must 
depend  largely  upon  individual  merit.  The 
aid  of  wealth  or  influential  friends  availeth 
little  or  naught,  for  success  much  rest  upon 
broad  and  accurate  knowledge  of  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  science  which  the  individual  rep- 
resents in  his  professional  life.  When  ad- 
vancement is  secured,  it  is  therefore  evidence 
of  ability  of  earnest  effort  and  of  strong 
purpose.  These  qualities  have,  during  the 
years  of  his  connection  with  the  bar  won  for 


Columbus  EwaJt  a  creditable  position  among 
the  lawyers  of  Knox  county  and  will  gain 
for  him  still  greater  importance  in  the  fu- 
ture. He  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as 
prosecuting  attorney  for  the  county  and  his 
re-election  is  an  indication  of  the  trust  re- 
posed in  him. 

Mr.  Ewalt  was  born  in  Liberty  township, 
Knox  county,  in  1865,  and  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  this  part 
of  the  state,  almost  ninety  years  having 
passed  since  his  great-grandfather,  John 
Ewalt,  sought  a  home  here.  The  family  is 
of  German  lineage  and  was  founded  in 
America  in  colonial  days.  John  Ewalt  was 
born  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1760,  and  there  resided  until  1813,  when 
with  his  family  he  started  westward,  travel- 
ing in  the  slow  manner  of  the  times  until 
he  arrived  in  Clinton  township,  Knox  coun- 
ty, Ohio.  Here  he  took  up  his  abode  just 
west  of  Mount  Vernon.  He  brought  with 
him  his  eleven  children,  whose  descendants 
are  now  largely  scattered  over  the  west.  His 
death  occurred  in  this  locality.  His  son, 
Richard  Ewalt,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  one  of  the  numerous  family,  and 
in  Knox  county  he  aided  in  the  arduous 
task  of  reclaiming  wild  land  for  purposes 
of  civilization  and  also  shared  in  the  various 
hardships  and  trials  of  frontier  life.  He 
married  Miss  Phoebe  Douglas  and  among 
their  children  was  William  D.  Ewalt.  The 
last  named  was  the  father  of  our  subject  and 
was  born  in  Morris  township,  this  county, 
in  1828.  He  married  Rizpah  Moxley,  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  Moxley,  who  came  to 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  from  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  in  1833,  and  located  in  Liberty 
township,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days. 
The  latter  married  Miss  Watkins  who  was 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


63 


also  a  native  of  Maryland  and  died  soon 
after  her  arrival  in  the  Buckeye  state.  He 
then  wedded  Miss  Brown,  of  Liberty  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  D.  Ewalt  be- 
came the  parents  of  six  sons  older  than  our 
subject  and  three  daughters  younger,  mak- 
ing ten  children  in  all.  One  son,  Clement 
v.,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  and 
a  daughter,  Cora,  passed  away  at  the  age  of 
fourteen.  The  others  are :  Cassius  R.,  a 
farmer  of  Liberty  township,  Knox  county; 
Stephen  D.,  of  Bucyrus,  Ohio;  Frank  L., 
who  is  also  living  in  Bucyrus;  Dallas  R., 
a  contractor  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  Allan  M., 
a  resident  farmer  of  Liberty  township;  Co- 
lumbus, of  this  review;  Flora,  who  resides 
in  Liberty  township ;  and  Hattie  M.,  a  teach- 
er of  Olympia,  Washington. 

In  the  public  schools  of  this  county  Co- 
lumbus Ewalt  obtained  his  early  education, 
which  was  supplemented  by  study  in  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University,  at  Delaware,  and  at 
Ada,  Ohio.  For  five  years  he  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching  in  this  county,  but  this 
was  merely  a  preliminary  business  step.  Af- 
ter reading  law  with  Judge  Adams,  of 
Mount  Vernon,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  for  nine  years  has  been  a  practitioner 
at  Mount  Vernon,  winning  prominence  as 
the  years  have  passed  by  reason  of  his  fa- 
miliarity with  legal  principles,  his  careful 
preparation  of  cases  and  a  mind  which  read- 
ily determines  the  salient  point  in  litigation. 

Mr.  Ewalt  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
Mount  Vernon,  to  Miss  Emma  Blair,  a 
daughter  of  William  H.  Blair,  formerly  a 
well-known  citizen  of  this  place  but  now 
deceased.  The  lady  for  several  prior  to  her 
marriage  taught  school  in  Mount  Vernon, 
and,  like  her  husband,  ranks  high  in  social 
circles  where  true  worth  and  intelligence  are  | 


at  par.  He  is  identified  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Masonic  fraternities  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
His  political  support  is  given  the  Democ- 
racy and.  on  its  ticket  he  was  elected  pros- 
ecuting attorney  for  Knox  county  in  1897 
and  again  in  1900  and  his  present  term  will 
conclude  an  incumbency  of  six  years.  There 
has  been  nothing  sensational  in  his  career, 
every  step  has  been  thoughtfully  and  delib- 
erately made  and  every  advance  has  been  at 
the  cost  of  hard  and  self-denying  labor.  He 
stands  to-day  a  strong  man — strong  in  the 
consciousness  of  well  spent  years,  strong  to 
plan  and  perform  and  strong  in  his  credit 
and  good  name. 


ABRAHAM   MORNINGSTAR. 

The  honored  subject  of  this  review  has 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Knox  county,  where 
he  has  lived  and  labored  to  goodly  ends,  and 
it  is  with  gratification  that  we  offer  in  this 
publication  a  brief  review  of  his  genealogy 
and  personal  career.  Mr.  Morningstar  was 
born  in  Butler  township,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1852,  and  in  the 
county  of  his  nativity  he  was  reared  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer  boy,  while  the  common 
schools  of  his  locality  afforded  him  his  edu- 
cational privileges.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  he  began  the  battle  of  life  for  him- 
self, working  on"the  shares  on  the  home 
farm  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  on 
the  7th  of  August,  1 88 1,  Miss  Nellie  Purdy 
becoming  his  wife.  Soon  after  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morningstar  removed  to 
a  farm  of  sixty-seven  acres,  which  he  had 
previously  purchased  and  where  they  made 


154 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


their  home  for  one  year,  on  the  expiration 
of  which  period  they  sold  that  tract  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty-one  acres  in 
Butler  township.  At  that  time  the  land  was 
in  its  primitive  condition,  but  Mr.  Morning- 
star  placed  his  fields  under  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation,  erected  good  and  substantial 
buildings,  and  in  many  other  ways  added  to 
the  value  and  attractive  appearance  of  the 
place.  In  1892,  however,  he  left  that  farm 
and  purchased  the  land  on  which  he  now  re- 
sides, located  in  College  township  and  ad- 
joining the  village  of  Gambler.  It  com- 
prises thirty-one  acres,  and  has  been  placed 
under  an  excellent  state  of  improvement; 
and  he  still  retains  possession  of  his  farm  in 
Butler  township,  thus  making  him  one  of  the 
leading  and  influential  agriculturists  of  the 
county. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  exerting  his 
right  of  franchise  in  support  O'f  the  men  and 
measures  of  that  party.  In  his  social  rela- 
tions he  is  a  member  of  the  Grange.  Mr. 
Morningstar  is  one  of  the  well-known  men 
of  Knox  county,  and  all  who  are  at  all  famil- 
iar with  his  record  admire  and  respect  him 
for  all  he  has  accomplished.  His  life  his- 
tory contains  many  lessons  which  may  well 
be  heeded,  for  it  illustrates  what  can  be  ac- 
complished through  energy,  enterprise  and 
earnest  purpose.  He  is  to-day  the  owner  of 
valuable  land,  and  all  his  possessions  stand 
as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise. 


FRANK  V.  OWEN. 


From-  a  very  early  period  in  the  develop- 
ment of  Knox  county  the  name  of  Owen  has 
been  associated  with  its  historv.  for  War- 


ren Owen,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
leaving  his  home  in  the  Green  Moimtain 
state,  emigrated  to  Ohio  when  this  locality 
was  an  almost  uninhabited  region.  Here 
he  aided  in  reclaiming  the  wild  land  for  pur- 
poses of  civilization  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  a  leading  farmer  here,  but  died 
in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-four  years.  His  son,  Gilbert 
R.  Owen,  the  father  of  Frank  V.,  was  born 
on  the  ol-d  family  homestead  in  Middleberry 
township,  Knox  county,  and  there  spent  his 
entire  life,  devoting  his  energies  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  As  a  companion  and  help- 
mate for  the  journey  of  life  he  chose  Miss 
Elizabeth  Green,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Green,  who  came  from  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, to  Ohio,  and  died  in  Perry  township, 
i  Morrow  county.  Mr.  Owen  died  in  1863, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years. 

Frank  V.  Owen  was  born  in  Middle- 
berry  township,  Knox  county,  in  1857,  and 
at  the  usual  age  entered  the  public  schools, 
therein  mastering  the  usual  branches  of 
knowledge  that  constitute  the  curriculum  in 
such  institutions.  His  law  studies  were  pur- 
sued in  the  office  and  under  the  direction 
of  the  firm  of  Cooper  &  Moore,  and  in  1884 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  since  which  time 
he  has  maintained  an  office  in  Mount  Ver- 
non and  now  has  a  very  extensive  clientage 
of  a  distinctively  representative  character. 
He  has  tried  many  personal  injury  cases  and 
engages  in  general  practice.  On  his  admis- 
sion to  the  bar  he  did  not  consider  his  stud- 
ies finished,  but  is  continually  adding  to  his 
knowledge  and  in  tlie  preparation  of  cases 
reviews  every  authority  bearing  upon  the 
points  in  issue. 

In  this  county,  in  1S94,  was  celebrated 
the  marriaee  of  Mr.  Owen  and  Miss  Bessie 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


65 


Johnson,  of  Mount  Vernon,  a  daughter  of 
Scott  Johnson.  They  have  two  children, 
EHzabeth  and'  Isabella,  and  by  a  former 
marriage  Mr.  Owen  had  two  sons — Charles, 
who  is  a  graduate  of  the  high  school  of 
Mount  Vernon  and  of  Kenyon  College  and 
is  now  in  Dayton;  and  Robert,  who  is  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Mount  Vernon  schools.  So- 
cially Mr.  Owen  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodge,  and  politically  he 
is  a  Republican.  In  1887  he  was  elected 
to  the  state  legislature  and  served  on  some 
of  the  most  important  committees,  and  at 
once  became  an  active  and  earnest  advocate 
of  those  measures  that  were  of  most  worth 
and  importance  to  the  citizens  oi  the  state, 
proving  himself  a  capable  member.  In  1888 
he  introduced  in  the  house  a  measure  re- 
quiring all  saloons  to  be  closed  on  Sunday 
and  it  became  a  law  and  is  now  on  the  stat- 
ute books,  not  only  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  but 
many  other  states  have  copied  from  it.  The 
law  bears  the  name  of  its  author  and  is 
known  as  the  "Owen  Sunday  Closing  Law." 
At  the  end  of  his  first  term  he  declined  a 
second  nomination,  preferring  to  devote  his 
entire  time  to  his  law  practice,  which  had 
grown  to  large  proportions.  Mr.  Owen 
is  distinctively  a  self-made-man,  having 
climbed  from  the  bottom,  round  by  round, 
imtil  to-day  his  capability  as  a  lawyer  is 
widely  recognized  and  is  attested  by  the 
many  favorable  verdicts  which  he  gains  for 
his  clients. 


GEORGE  W.   PORTERFIELD. 

The  value  of  good  Irish  blood  as  a  fac- 
tor in  American  civilization  has  been  dem- 
onstrated in  all  parts  of  our  country.     In 


his  paternal  line  of  descent  George  W.  Por- 
terfield,  who  is  a  successful  farmer  on  sec- 
tion 2,  Clay  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
is  of  Irish  extraction.  He  was  born  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  lives  April  3,  1835, 
a  son  of  Samuel  C.  Porterfield,  who  was 
born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  reared  and  married  in  Venango 
county  in  the  same  state.  In  18 15  Samuel 
C.  Porterfield  emigrated  from  his  old  Penn- 
sylvania home  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and 
located  in  the  woods  on  section  2  in  Clay 
township.  The  forests  were  full  of  wild 
game,  and  Indians  roamed  at  will  in  con- 
siderable numbers.  He  made  a  little  clear- 
ing, on  which  he  built  a  small  log  house,  and 
there  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
twenty  years  later,  and  thus  began  his  career 
as  a  pioneer  in  the  Ohio  wilderness. 

Samuel  C.  Porterfield  was  in  religion  an 
adherent  of  the  Presbyterian  faith  and  dur- 
ing his  active  years  took  a  helpful  part  in  the 
work  of  his  church,  in  which  he  held  im- 
portant offices.  Originally  a  Whig  in  poli- 
tics, he  naturally  became  a  Republican  upon 
the  organization  of  that  party.  He  was  in- 
fluential in  local  affairs  and  for  some  years 
filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  and 
at  different  times  was  elected  to  other  town- 
ship offices.  He  was  a  charter  member  of 
the  Masonic  lodge  at  Bladensburg,  and  was 
prominent  in  many  affairs  throughout  the 
county.  He  died  in  1865.  Samuel  Porter- 
field, father  of  Samuel  C.  Porterfield,  and 
grandfather  of  George  W.  Porterfield,  was 
born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  his  father,  the  great-grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  and  reared 
in  the  Emerald  Isle. 

Eliza  Stevenson,  who  married  Samuel 
C.  Porterfield,  and  was  the  mother  of  George 


66 


A    CENTEXXIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


W.  Porterfield,  was  born  and  passed  her 
early  life  in  Virginia  and  lived  to  be  sev- 
enty-two years  old.  George  Stevenson,  her 
father,  was  a  soldier  in  the  American  army 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  at  one  time 
was  captured  by  Indians,  making  his  es- 
cape only  after  an  exciting  experience.  The 
Stevensons  were  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction. 
Samuel  C.  Porterfield  saw  active  service  in 
the  war  of  1812-14,  which  was  afterward 
recognized  by  the  government  in  a  substan- 
tial way.  His  wife  bore  him  ten  children, 
named  as  follows,  in  the  order  of  their  na- 
tivity: Nancy,  William,  Sarah,  Samuel, 
James,  John,  Robert,  Elizabeth,  George  W. 
and  Catharine.  Of  these  only  George  W. 
and  Elizabeth  are  living. 

George  W.  Porterfield,  the  ninth  in  or- 
der of  birth  of  the  children  of  Samuel  C. 
and  Eliza  (Stevenson)  Porterfield,  passed 
his  boyhood  and  youth  on  the  farm  which 
is  now  his  homestead.  His  school  days  were 
spent  in  an  old-fashioned  log  school  house, 
with  puncheon  floor  and  slab  benches  and 
desks,  which  stood  near  his  home,  and  at 
the  Martinsburg  Academy,  at  which  he  was 
a  student  about  a  year.  After  completing 
his  educational  course  he  taught  school  in 
Kno'X  county  four  years,  when  failing  health 
compelled  him  to  abandon  the  school  room 
and  seek  outdoor  life  on  the  farm.  He  was 
married  September  29,  1859,  to  Priscilla 
Hughes,  who  resided  a  mile  and  a  half  south 
of  Martinsburg,  Clay  township,  Knox  coun- 
ty, Ohio'.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  A.  (Haver)  Hughes,  who  were  early 
settlers  in  the  county.  Mrs.  Hughes,  who 
was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  oi  her  par- 
ents family  of  five  children,  also  finished  her 
education  at  the  Martinsburg  Academy.  She 
has  borne  her  husband  nine  children,  named 


as  follows,  and  of  whom  seven  are  living : 
Mary  E.,  who  married  J.  M.  Porterfield; 
Jessie  S.,  who  married  Henry  Rice;  Eliza 
O.,  who  married  William  Melick;  Estrella, 
who  married  E.  L.  Wolfe;  Charles  G.,  who 
was  born  on  the  night  of  the  day  on  which 
General  Grant  was  elected  president,  and 
married  Violla  Wolfe;  Ida,  who  is  a  mem- 
ber of  her  father's  household ;  Thomas,  who 
assists  his  father  in  the  management  of 
his  farm;  Libbie,  who  became  a  successful 
teacher  at  the  age  of  sixteen  and  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three;  and  Minnie  B.,  who 
died  in  childhood. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Porterfield 
bought  the  old  Porterfield  homestead  of  his 
father  and  has  since  been  engaged  quite  ex- 
tensively in  the  wool  and  stock  trade.  His 
farm,  which  consists  of  four  hundred  acres, 
is  supplied  with  good  buildings  and  ade- 
quate equipments  of  all  kinds,  also  liberally 
stocked  with  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  swine. 
For  a  time  Mr.  Porterfield  was  engaged  in 
merchandising  at  Bladensburg.  He  is  a 
man  of  much  enterprise  and  a  public-spir- 
ited and  patriotic  citizen.  A  strict  Re- 
publican, he  wields  considerable  influence 
in  his  party,  and  has  ably  served  his  fellow 
townsmen  in  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  is  not  a  member  of  any  church, 
but  is  liberal  in  his  contributions  toward  the 
support  of  all  the  churches  near  his  home, 
especially  the  Presbyterian  church,  at  the 
services  of  which  he  and  his  family  are  at- 
tendants. He  is  a  life-long  resident  of  the 
township,  and  the  sixty-seven  years  he  has 
lived  here  have  not  been  lived  in  vain,  for 
not  only  has  he  prospered  financially,  but  he 
has  gained  a  reputation  as  an  upright,  pro- 
gressive citizen  of  which  any  man  might  be 
proud. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


67 


JOSEPH  S.  DAVIS. 

By  the  death  of  this  honorable  and  up- 
right citizen  the  community  sustained  an 
irreparable  loss  and  was  deprived  of  the 
presence  of  one  whom  it  had  come  to  look 
-upon  as  a  benefactor  and  friend.  Death 
often'  removes  from  our  midst  those  whom 
we  can  ill  afford  to  spare,  whose  lives  have 
been  all  that  is  exemplary  of  the  true  and 
thereby  really  great  citizen.  Such  a  one  was 
Mr.  Davis,  whose  whole  career,  business, 
political  and  social,  served  as  a  model  to  the 
young  and  an  inspiratiom  to  the  aged.  He 
honored  the  city  which  honored  him  with 
many  positions  of  public  trust.  His  labors 
proved  of  great  benefit  to  the  public  and  by 
hisi  usefulness  he  created  a  memory  whose 
perpetuation  does  not  depend  upon  brick  and 
stone,  but  upon  the  spontaneous  and  freewill 
offering  of  a  great  and  enlightened  people. 

Mr.  Davis  was  born  in  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  November  21,  1812,  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Avis  Davis.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Cornish,  New  Hampshire,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Wilkesbarre,  Luzerne  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  Avis  Townsend,  who  was  born 
in  that  place.  Subsequently  they  removed 
to  Ohio,  locating  in  Ross  county  in  1808, 
while  in  181 1  they  went  to  Pickaway  coun- 
ty and  in  18 15  took  up  their  abode  in  Hills- 
boTO',  Highland  county,  where  the  parents 
of  our  subject  spent  their  remaining  days. 
The  father  was  a  merchant  of  Chillicothe, 
and  through  the  conduct  of  his  commercial 
pursuits  provided  for  his  family.  He  had 
four  sons :  Dr.  Edwin  Davis,  of  New  York 
city,  now  deceased;  Rev.  Werter  Rennick 
Davis,  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  who  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Bald- 
win City,  Kansas,  where  he  was  president 


of  the  Baldwin  University;  Dr.  William 
Davis,  of  Peru,  Ohio;  and  the  subject  of 
this  review,  who  was  the  second  in  order  of 
birth.  All  were  students  in  Gambier  Col- 
lege, in  Knox  county,  were  Episcopalians, 
with  the  exception  of  one,  in  religious  faith 
and  all  have  now  passed  away. 

Joseph  Slocumi  Davis,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review,  spent  his  youth  in  his 
parents'  home  and  in  early  life  assisted  his 
father  in  the  store.  His  preliminary  educa- 
tion, acquired  in  the  common  schools,  was 
supplemented  by  a  preparatory  course  in 
Gambier,  Ohio,  where  he  began  his  studies 
in  1829.  He  afterward  entered  Kenyon 
College,  in  which  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1835,  and  then,  having  determined 
to  make  the  practice  of  law  his  life  work,  he 
began  reading  in  the  law  office  of  Benjamin 
S.  Brown,  of  Mount  Vernon.  In  1836-37 
he  was  a  student  in  the  Cincinnati  Law 
School  and  in  the  latter  year  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  began  practice  in  connection 
with  Hon.  Columbus  Delano,  but  owing  to 
a  severe  illness  was  obliged  to  retire  after 
some  years  O'f  practice.  An  analytical  mind, 
strong  reasoning  powers  and  keen  intellectu- 
ality made  him  a  powerful  lawyer  at  the 
Knox  county  bar.  He  became  identified 
with  journalistic  interests  in  1848,  being  the 
first  editor  of  the  Line  Whig,  which  paper 
advocated  the  election  of  General  Zachary 
Taylor  as  president.  In  1850  he  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  United  States  marshal  and 
took  the  census  of  Knox  county,  while  in 
1849,  1850,  185 i>  1866,  1868,  1870  and 
1871  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Mount 
Vernon.  It  is  certainly  an  indication 
of  his  ability  and  the  confidence  re- 
posed in  him'  that  he  tvas  several  times 
recalled     to    the     office     after     retirement 


68 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


therefrom.  Hisi  administration  was  ever 
practical  and  progressive.  He  supported 
all  measures  which  he  believed  would 
prove  of  public  benefit  which  were  not  of  an 
extravagant  nature  and  was  always  found 
on  the  side  of  reform  and  improvement.  His 
labors  proved  very  helpful  and  acceptable  to 
the  city  and  well  did  he  deserve  the  honor  of 
being  seven  times  called  to-  be  the  chief  ex- 
ecutive of  his  city.  He  was  twice  elected 
probate  judge  of  Knox  county,  his  last  term 
expiring  in  1861.  In  1864  he  was  appointed 
by  President  Lincoln  a  paymaster  in  the 
army  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  centeury  he  was 
a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, acting  as  its  president  for  nine  years. 
The  cause  of  education  found  in  him  a  warm 
friend  and  he  did  all  in  his  power  to  raise 
the  standard  of  intellectual  attainment  in 
the  city.  In  1869  the  directors  of  the  Cleve- 
land, Mount  Vernon  &  Delaware  Railroad 
Company  elected  him  secretary  and  he  held 
that  position  for  quite  a  number  of  years. 

Mr.  Davis  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Sarah  Moore,  of  Connellsville,  Penn- 
sylvania, a  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  Moore, 
who  came  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  but  after- 
ward returned  to  Connellsville,  following 
the  failure  of  the  Owlcreek  Bank.  There 
he  soon  died.  His  family  later  again  came 
to  Ohio  and  here  his  daughter  became  the 
wife  of  Joseph  S.  Davis.  By  the  marriage 
were  born  four  children :  Henry,  who 
served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil 
war  as  captain  of  Company  H,  Twentieth 
Ohio  Regiment,  afterward  located  in  Santa 
Fe,  New  Mexico.  He  was  a  very  prominent 
Mason  and  died  January  i,  1901,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-four  years.  Mary  Davis  died  in 
1886.  RoUin  H.  Davis,  the  second  son, 
learned  the  jewelry  business  with  William 


Brown  of  Mount  Vernon  and  afterward  lo- 
cated in  Warren,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
conducted  a  jewelry  store  until  his  death. 
The  daughter,  Anna  Davis,  is  now  the 
widow  of  John  W.  Hall,  late  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  in  which  city  he  owned  and  edited  the 
Industrial  Union.  They  had  two  sons,  Rol- 
lin  Davis  and  Joseph  John,  who  are  now  in 
business  in  Mount  Vernon.  Their  mother, 
Mrs.  John  W.  Hall,  is  now  living  in  this 
city  in  her  father's  old  homestead. 

The  death  of  Joseph  H.  Davis  occurred 
in  Mount  Vernon  in  December,  1884,  when 
he  was  seventy-two  years  of  age  and  his 
wife  passed  away  May  3,  1879.  They 
ranked  among  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  Mount  Vernon.  Mr.  Davis  was  a  man 
of  firm  convictions  and  was  prompt  and  con- 
scientious in  the  discharge  of  public  and  pri- 
vate trusts.  His  was  a  sturdy  American 
character  and  a  stalwart  patriotism  and  he 
had  the  strongest  attachment  for  our  free 
institutions  and  was  ever  willing  to  make 
any  personal  sacrifice  for  their  preservation. 
He  was  of  stern  integrity  and  honesty  of 
purpose  and  despised  all  unworthy  or  ques- 
tionable means  to  secure  success  in  any  un- 
dertaking or  for  any  purpose  or  to  promote 
his  own  advancement  in  any  direction, 
whether  political  or  otlierwise.  Not  even 
the  tongue  of  calumny  ever  uttered  a  word 
to  the  contrary  nor  did  the  malevolence  of 
detraction  dare  to  assail  his  good  name. 


RICHARD  D.  PURDY. 

The  well-known  citizen  of  Clay  township, 
Knox  county,  whose  name  is  the  title  of  this 
sketch  and  who  lives  in  section  seven  in  the 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


69 


township  mentioned,  is  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  in  his  vicinity.  His  homestead  farm 
contains  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  and 
he  has  already  divided  two  hundred  and 
thirty-four  acres  among  his  sons.  He  is 
locally  prominent  as  a  Democrat,  and  for 
nine  years  held  the  office  O'f  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Harrison  township  and  was  also 
trustee  of  that  township.  In  many  ways  he 
is  one  of  the  influential  men  of  Knox 
county. 

Richard  D.  Purdy  was  born  in  Holmes 
couniy,  Ohio',  November  9,  1833,  a  son  of 
Elijah  Purdy,  a  native  of  Wayne  county, 
Pennsylvania,  who  settled  in  Holmes  coun- 
ty when  he  was  eighteen  years  old  and  there 
married.  He  began  life  in  the  woods  on 
government  land  which  he  purchased,  and 
improved  a  large  farm,  on  which  he  died  in 
his  seventy-second  year.  He  was  a  life-long 
member  of  the  old-school  Baptist  church  and 
often  preached  the  gospel  to^  his  fellow  pio- 
neers. A  Democrat  in  politics,  he  was  active 
in  local  affairs  and  filled  the  office  of  town- 
ship trustee,  also  discharged  other  import- 
ant official  duties.  Ephraim  Purdy,  father 
of  Elijah  and  grandfather  of  Richard  D., 
was  born  and  lived  out  his  entire  life  in 
Wayne  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was 
a  well-to-do  farmer.  Clarinda  Babcock, 
who  married  Elijah  Purdy,  and  was  the 
mother  of  Richard  D.  Purdy,  was  born  and 
reared  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  lived 
to  be  seventy-four  years  old.  Her  father, 
Richard  Babcock,  was  a  pioneer  and  be- 
came a  prominent  farmer  in  Coshocton 
county,  where  he  died  at  about  the  age  of 
sixty  years.  By  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Babcock,  Elijah  Purdy  became  the  father  of 
ten  children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  all 
of  whom  lived    to    maturitv  and  married, 


bringing  toi  grandfather  and  grandmother 
Purdy  two  hundred  and  six  descendants. 
The  subject  oi  this  sketch  was  the  sixth 
child  and  third  son  of  his  parents.  He  was 
reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  and  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  began  a  three  years'  appren- 
ticeship at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  for  one 
year  thereafter  worked  as  a  journeyman 
carpenter. 

February  8,  1854,  Richard  D.  Purdy 
married  Rachel  Purdy,  a  native  of  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  oif  Nathaniel 
and  Chloe  (Nicholson)  Purdy.  Mrs.  Pur- 
dy's  parents  were  born  and  reared  in  Wayne 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  Mrs.  Purdy  was 
the  thirteenth  in  order  of  birth  of  their  fam- 
ily of  fourteen  children,  five  sons  and  seven 
daughters  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood  and  married.  Mrs.  Purdy,  who 
was  their  sixth  daughter,  passed  her  girlhood 
in  her  native  county.  In  1854,  shortly  after 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Purdy  located  at  Spencer- 
ville,  Allen  county,  Ohio,  where  he  carried 
on  a  carpenter  business  for  ten  years.  In 
June,  1864,  he  removed  to  Jefferson  county, 
Kansas,  and  bought  a  farm  near  Rising 
Sun,  where  he  remained  for  three  years. 
During  that  time  he  was  employed  at  four 
dollars  per  day  in  building  railway  bridges 
and  depots  on  the  line  of  the  Union 
Pacific  Railroad  between  its  eastern  ter- 
minus land  Denver.  In  1867  failing 
health  compelled  him  to  relinquish  act- 
ive work  as  a  carpenter  and  he  sold 
his  farm  in  Kansas  and  located  in  Knox 
county,  a  few  miles  east  of  Gambler,  where 
he  bought  a,  farm  and  there  lived  un- 
til 1876,  when  he  purchased  and  removed  to 
his  present  farm  in  Clay  township.  On 
this  farm,  while  continuing  carpenter  work 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


in  a  general  way,  he  made  many  improve- 
ments, including  the  erection  of  a  good  resi- 
dence, ample  barns  and  out  buildings.  About 
eight  years  ago  he  practically  retired  from 
active  life. 

Richard  D.  and  Rachel  (Purdy)  Purdy 
have  seven  children  and  eleven  grandchil- 
dren. Their  five  sons  and  two  daughters 
are  here  mentioned  in  the  order  of  their 
birth :  Julia  Ann,  who  married  Simon 
Dudgeon,  of  Gambler,  Ohio;  Clarinda  V., 
who  married  Abe  Morningstar,  of  Gambler, 
Ohio;  Jasper  M.,  who  married  Hattie  Moch- 
wart,  of  Allen  county,  Ohio;  Emery  E.,  who 
married  Samantha  Lepley  and  lives  at  Ches- 
terv-ille,  Morrow  count}-,  Ohao;  John  C, 
who  married  Lesta  Oldaker  and  assists  his 
father  in  the  management  of  the  home  farm ; 
Chauncey  V.,  who  married  Emma  Kerr  and 
lives  in  Pleasant  township,  Knox  county; 
and  Henry  D. 


THOMAS  A.  INKS. 


The  prominent  citizen  of  Fredericktown, 
Ohic,  whose  name  is  above,  is  no  less 
well  known  as  a  mason  than  as  a  farm- 
er, and  he  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  A  son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Seiner)  Inks,  he  was  bom 
in  Clinton  township,  this  county,  No- 
vember 3,  1846,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  in  this  county.  He  has  lived 
in  Wayne  township  since  November  4,  1851, 
when  his  parents  took  up  their  residence 
there.  All  of  his  active  years  have  been  de- 
voted to  farming,  in  which  he  has  won  sat- 
isfactory success.  He  has  given  his  atten- 
tion to  the  affairs  of  his  township  and  has 


ably  filled  the  office  of  township  trustee  and 
discharged  other  important  obligations. 

Mr.  Inks  was  married  December  22, 
1875,  to  Araminta  Pernina  Lyon,  and  they 
have  five  children,  named  Edward  Newton, 
Hattie  L.,  John  William,  Mary  Elizabeth 
and  Lewis.  John  Inks,  the  father  of 
Thomas  A.  Inks,  was  born  in  Shropshire, 
England.  Emigrating  to  America,  he  locat- 
ed at  ]\Iount  Vernon,  Ohio,  and  became  a 
farmer  there.  Elizabeth  Seiner,  whom  he 
married,  was  born  in  Berks  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  died  in  1876.  Araminta  Pernina 
Lyon,  who  married  Thomas  A.  Inks,  was 
born  in  Wayne  township,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  July  17,  1850,  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Louisa  (Keyes)  Lyon.  She  received 
her  education  in  the  public  schools  near  her 
childhood  home  and  early  identified  herself 
with  the  Presb}'terian  church,  of  which  she 
is  an  active  member. 

\\'illiam  Lyon,  father  of  Mrs.  Inks,  was 
born  in  ^^'ayne  township,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  August  14,  181 1,  and  was  a  life-long 
farmer.  In  religion  his  parents  affiliated 
with  the  Methodist  church  and  in  politics  he 
was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Louisa  Keyes, 
October  6,  1838,  and  she  bore  him  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living:  Newton, 
Marion,  Mary  Elizabeth,  Sarah  Clotilda, 
Araminta  Pernina,  Mertie  Jane  and  Harriet 
R.  William  Lyon,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Inks, 
was  a  son  of  Simeon  Lj-on,  who  came  to 
Ohio  from  New  Jersey.  Simeon  Lyon  was 
born  August  22,  1767,  and  married  Hannah 
Serring,  who  was  born  October  14,  1772. 
They  had  eleven  chilciren,  none  of  whom 
survive:  Mehetabel,  Abigail,  Pernina,  Dan- 
iel, Benjamin,  Eliza,  William,  Jane,  Asher, 
Phcebe  Ann  and  Caroline.  Simeon  Lyon 
was  a  son  of  Ephraim  Lyon,  a  Revolution- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


ary  soldier.  He  (Simeon)  settled  in  Wayne 
township,  KnoQc  county,  Ohio,  in  1806,  on 
land  purchased  by  his  father,  who  always 
resided  in  New  Jersey. 


JOHN  O.  HARRIS. 

In  these  days  of  up-to-date  farming  it  is 
a  pleasure  to  note  the  essential  facts  in  the 
career  of  a  farmer  who  is  in  some  ways  a 
leader  in  his  class  in  the  community  in  which 
he  lives.  Such  a  farmer  is  John  O.  Harris, 
of  Clay  township,  KnO'X  county,  Ohio,  who 
is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  eight  acres 
of  land  comprising  his  homestead  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  constituting  an 
independent  farm  in  Harrison  township. 

Mr.  Harris  was  born  in  Jackson  town- 
ship. Knox  county,  Ohio,  March  29,  1849,  ^ 
son  of  Samuel  Harris,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
who  was  an  early  settler  in  the  county.  Eli- 
jah Harris,  father  of  Samuel  Harris  and 
grandfather  of  John  O.  Harris,  was  also 
a  pioneer  in  Knox  county.  Sarah  Hill,  who 
married  Samuel  Harris  and  became  the 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a 
native  of  Knox  county.  Samuel  Harris 
died  a  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years;  his 
wife  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  one  daughter  and  two 
sons,  and  our  subject  was  the  youngest  of 
their  three  children. 

John  O.  Harris  was  reared  in  Clay  town- 
ship and  educated  in  the  common  schools  in 
his  vicinity.  He  has  become  prominent  as  a 
farmer,  is  an  active  member  of  the  Disci- 
ple church,  and  is  locally  influential  in  the 
Democratic  party.  He  was  married  in 
June,   1876,  to  Miss  Lydia  Cochren,  a  na- 


tive of  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Delia  A.  (Walker)  Cochren. 
A  biographical  sketch  of  her  father  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  work.  She  was 
reared  in  Howard  township,  Knox  county, 
and  is  an  accomplished  woman,  highly  es- 
teemed by  all  who  know  her.  She  has  borne 
her  husband  a  son  and  a  daughter  named 
Vincie  Craig  and  Sallie. 


JOHN  WAUGH. 

For  many  years  this  gentleman  has  been 
actively  identified  with  the  business  interests 
of  Knox  county,  and  is  one  of  its  honored 
and  highly  esteemed  citizens.  His  posses- 
sions have  been  principally  acquired  through 
his  own  efforts,  and  as  the  result  of  his  con- 
secutive endeavor  he  has  won  a  place  among 
the  substantial  men  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Waugh  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  on  the  25th  of  December, 
1816.  His  father  died  before  his  birth,  and 
his  mother  afterward  married  Timothy 
Downing,  by  whom  she  had  two  children. 
By  her  first  marriage  she  became  the  mother 
of  two  children  also, — Lewis  and  John. 
When  the  latter  was  but  six  years  of  age  he 
was  bound  out  to  Joseph  Brown,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  one  year,  and  he  then  came 
to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  with  Philip  H. 
Brown,  the  latter  purchasing  a  farm  in  Mon- 
roe township,  and  our  subject  remained  with 
that  gentleman  until  his  fifteenth  year.  After 
reaching  his  fifteenth  year  Mr.  Waugh  went 
to  Mount  Vernon,  where  he  entered  upon  a 
five  years'  apprenticeship  at  the  tailor's 
trade,  and  during  that  entire  time  he  re- 
ceived only  his  board  and  clothes  in  compen- 


72 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


sation  for  his  services.  After  completing 
his  apprenticeship  he  came  to  Gambier  and 
embarked  in  the  tailoring  business  on  his 
own  account,  forming  a  partnership  with 
a  Mr.  Williams,  which  relationship  was  con- 
tinued for  seven  years,  and  from  that  time 
until  1896  he  carried  on  the  business  alone. 
He  has  ever  been  upright  and  honorable  in 
all  his  dealings,  his  word  at  all  times  being 
considered  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  his  well- 
directed  efforts  have  been  crowned  with  a 
high  degree  of  success.  He  now  owns  a 
valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  College  township,  Knox  county,' 
and  also  has  a  seven  hundred  and  twenty 
acre  tract  in  Story  county,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Waugh  married  Miss  Minerva  Law- 
rence, who  was  a  prominent  member  and 
active  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  died  in  1889.  Mr.  Waugh  is 
a  worthy  representative  ^l  that  class  of  citi- 
zens who  lead  ciuiet,  industrious,  honest  and 
useful  lives  and  constitute  the  best  portion 
of  a  community.  Wherever  known  he  is 
held  in  high  regard,  and  is  certainly  deserv- 
ing of  honorable  mention  in  the  history  of 
the  county  where  almost  his  entire  life  has 
been  passed. 


WILLIAM  D.  BANNING. 

The  name  of  Banning  has  been  so  close- 
ly conn-ected  with  the  history  of  Knox  coun- 
ty through  almost  a  century  that  a  mem- 
ber of  the  family  needs  no  introduction  to 
the  readers  of  this  volume,  especially  if  he 
be  as  widely  and  favorably  known  as  is  Will- 
iam>  D.   Banning,  who  is  now  living  a  re- 


tired life  in  Mount  Vernon.  He  was  born 
in  this  city  and  is  a  grandson  of  Judge  An- 
thony Banning,  who  came  to  the  county  in 
1812.  His  father,  James  S.  Banning  was 
a  leading  and  influential  resident  of  the 
county  for  many  years  and  died  in  1867,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven.  He  married  Eliza 
Blackstone,  who  was  born  in  Connelsville, 
Lafayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  the  only 
daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Rogers) 
Blackstone.  The  Blackstone  family  was  of 
English  lineage,  and  her  great-great-grand- 
father of  William  Blackstone,  an  uncle  of 
Governor  William  Blackstone,  the  famous 
author  of  the  celebrated  treatise  on  real  es- 
tate law,  which  has  become  a  text-book  in 
all  law  colleges  throughout  the  country. 
Mrs.  Eliza  (Blackstone)  Banning  received 
superior  educational  advantages  and  was  a 
lady  of  marked  culture  and  refinement.  She 
brought  the  first  piano  to  Mount  Vernon 
and  took  great  pleasure  in  teaching  the 
young  people  of  this  then  pioneer  town  mu- 
sic and  other  accomplishments.  She  was 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  church  and  her  whole  life  was  one 
of  beneficence  to  her  family  and  to  the  com- 
munity. Her  influence  was  that  of  a  cul- 
tured, refined  lady,  and  her  memory  remains 
as  a  blessed  benediction  to  all  who  knew  her. 
Unto  James  and  Eliza  Banning  were 
born  the  following  named :  Sarah  D.  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years;  James  Black- 
stone, who  made  his  home  in  Clinton  town- 
ship, married  Miss  Mary  Prentiss  Williams, 
who  survives  her  husband,  and  lives  in 
Mount  Vernon;  Anthony,  of  Banning, 
Pennsylvania,  married  Catherine  Torrence, 
of  Connelsville,  that  state;  Priscilla  became 
the  wife  of  J.  D.  Thompson,  of  Mount  Ver- 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


73 


non,  but  both  are  now  deceased;  William  D. 
is  the  next  of  the  family;  Henry  B.  died  in 
Cincinnati  and  his  sketch  is  given  on  an- 
other page  of  this  volume;  Eliza  is  the  wife 
of  William'  Brown,  ex-mayor  of  Mount 
Vernon;  Thomas  D.  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Mount  Vernon;  and  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  Frank  Watkins. 

William  D.  Banning,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  spent  his  youth  in  acquir- 
ing his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
in  Sloan's  Academy  in  Mount  Vernon,  and 
since  putting  aside  his  text-books  he  has  de- 
voted his  energies  to  farming  and  to  the 
management  of  his  property  interests.  He 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Lake,  of  Wooster,  Ohio, 
a  daughter  of  Constance  and  Eleanor 
(Jones)  Lake.  Her  father  was  a  prominent 
merchant  and  banker  at  Wooster,  while  the 
Jones  family  were  prominent  in  Wayne 
county.  Her  grandfather  Jones  was  for 
two  terms  a  member  of  congress  and  was  a 
recognized  leader  of  public  thought  and  feel- 
ing. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Banning  were 
born  six  children,  but  they  lost  three.  Those 
yet  living  are:  Priscilla,  the  wife  of  Harry 
Sanderson,  of  Mount  Vernon ;  Anna,  at 
home ;  and  Lake,  who  is  attending  school. 
The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  com- 
munity, enjoying  the  warm  regard  of  a  very 
large  circle  of  friends.  Their  home  is  noted 
for  its  gracious  and  pleasing  hospitality  and 
its  social  functions  are  always  regarded  as 
among  the  most  enjoyable  of  the  season. 
Mr.  Banning  represents  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  honored  families  of  the  county  and 
is  a  worthy  scion  of  his  race,  upholding  the 
untarnished  name  which  has  ever  been  a 
synonym  of  loyal  citizenship  and  upright 
conduct. 


JOSEPH  MYERS. 

In  Democratic  circles  in  Knox  county 
Joseph  Myers  is  a  recognized  leader  and  that 
to  a  high  degree  he  enjoys  the  confidence 
and  trust  oi  his  fellow  men  is  indicated  by 
the  fact  that  he  is  now  filling  the 
responsible  position  of  president  of  the 
board  of  county  commissioners.  His  per- 
sonal popularity  is  indicated  by  the  fact 
that  at  the  election  of  1900  he  ran  more 
than  two  hundred  and  fifty  votes  ahead  o£ 
his  ticket,  his  support  coming  from  many 
who  voted  for  the  Republican  nominees  for 
other  offices.  His  loyal  citizenship,  his 
practical  yet  progressive  administration  of 
the  affairs  of  the  office  and  his  earnest  ef- 
forts to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  county — 
these  are  some  of  the  strong  characteristics 
of  the  man. 

Mr.  Myers  was  born  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  four  miles  west  of 
Mount  Vernon,  on  the  3d  of  May,  1844,  his 
parents  being  William  and  Sarah  (Dietrich) 
Myers,  in  whose  family  of  four  daughters- 
and  two  sons  he  was  the  youngest  child  and 
the  only  survivor.  Upon  the  home  farm  he 
was  reared  and  his  work  in  the  fields  was. 
alternated  by  period  O'f  attendance  at  the 
public  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighten  he 
was  drafted  for  service  in  the  army,  enlisting 
as  a  member  of  Company  F,  Sixty-fifth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  served  under 
the  command  of  General  Rosecrans  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Stone  River.  He 
was  drafted  for  nine  months,  but  was  with 
his  command  at  the  front  for  eleven  months. 

After  receiving  an  honorable  discharge 
Mr.  Myers  returned  home  and  remained  on 
the  farm  until  his  father's  death.     The  old 


74 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


home  place  was  willed  to  him  and  his 
brother,  Jacob,  and  the  latter,  having  mar- 
ried and  removed  to  another  locality,  our 
subject  operated  the  land  which  they  had 
purchased  from  the  other  heirs.  Upon 
Jacob's  death  Joseph  Myers  purchased  his 
interest  in  the  property  and  soon  after  sold 
the  entire  amount  and  bought  his  father-in- 
law's  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  in  Clinton 
township,  two  miles  west  of  Mount  Vernon. 
There  he  lived  for  a  number  of  years,  but 
eventually  sold  the  place  and  invested  his 
money  in  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres 
of  land  in  Monroe  township,  three  miles 
northeast  of  Mount  Vernon,  upon  which  he 
yet  resides.  Throughout  his  entire  life  he 
has  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  and  his 
farming  methods  are  in  harmony  with  the 
advancement  of  the  times. 

Mr.  Myers  was  united  in  mariage  to 
Miss  Clementine  Rinehart,  a  native  of  Knox 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Rinehart 
■who  came  from  New  Jersey  to  this  county 
with  his  parents  in  1816.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Myers  have  been  born  seven  children : 
Emma,  who  is  the  wife  of  Foster  Tulloss, 
of  Clinton  township,  by  whom  she  has  six 
children:  Joseph;  James;  Charles;  Anna; 
Fay  and  Margaret ;  Samuel  deceased ;  Will- 
iam at  home;  Victoria,  the  wife  of  Harry 
Patterson,  of  Morris  township;  Mary,  Me- 
lissa and  Ralph,  all  yet  under  the  parental 
roof. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Myers 
has  been  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  in  1897  was  elected  on  that  ticket 
to  the  position  of  a  member  of  the  board  of 
county  commissioners.  He  served  so  capa- 
bly that  on  the  expiration  of  his  three-years' 
term  he  was  re-elected  in  1900  by  a  majority 
of  sixty-five,   although   a  majority   of   two 


hundred  was  given  the  head  of  the  Repub- 
lican ticket.  He  was  then  chosen  president 
of  the  board  and  is  therefore  at  the  head  of 
the  business  affairs  of  the  county,  which 
come  under  the  province  of  this  board.  For 
several  terms  he  was  trustee  of  Liberty 
township  and  at  all  times  has  exercised  his 
official  prerogatives  in  support  of  such 
meagures  as  he  believes  most  conducive  to 
the  public  good.  Mr.  Myers  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  Protestant  church,  and  frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  his  membership  be- 
ing in  Mount  Vernon  Lodge,  No.  316;  Co- 
ko'sing  Encampment  and  also  with  the  Uni- 
formed Rank  of  the  Order.  Few  men  in  the 
county  are  better  known,  for  he  has  always 
lived  in  Knox  county,  has  successfully  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  has  proved  himself  a 
worthy  public  officer. 


DELPHOS   SHERWOOD   SELLERS. 

The  prominent  farmer  of  Morgan  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Ohio,  whose  name  is 
mentioned  above,  traces  his  lineage  to  old 
Pennsylvania  stock.  Christian  Sellers,  his 
great-grandfather,  lived  in  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Jacob  Sellers,  a  son  of  Chris- 
tian Sellers,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  that  count}-  in 
1785,  and  came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in 
1806,  and  bought  three  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Morgan  township.  Returning  to 
Pennsylvania  in  1807  he  married  Mary 
Beam,  and  in  1808  began  to^  can-e  out  a 
home  on  his  land.  Setting  up  four  posts, 
with  cross  poles,  the)^  were  covered  with 
bark,  thus  securing  shelter  till  a  log  cabin 
could  be  made.  With  two  other  men  he 
worked  two  whole  days  to  place  the  heavy 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


logs  in  position,  only  to  realize  the  necessity 
for  more  help.  Ha\-ing  no  near  neighhors 
to  ask,  he  set  out  to  see  those  some  miles 
distant.  Meeting  "Old  Tusco,"  chief  of  the 
Delaware  Indians,  he  made  known  his  plight, 
and  the  chief  sent  him  four  stalwart  braves, 
who.  "'working  like  heroes,"  completed  his 
cabin  in  one  day.  They  were  fed  upon 
"cush-cush"  and  "dormin"  for  dinner,  that 
being  their  expression  for  roast  pork  and 
corn  bread.  His  cabin  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  present  premises.  His  large  tract  of  land 
was  covered  with  a  dense  forest  and  he  grad- 
ually cleared  it  and  improved  it  and  added 
to  its  acreage  until  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  the  owner  of  about  one  thousand  and 
five  hundred  acres,  and  was  one  of  the 
prominent  land-owners  of  Knox  county. 
Some  of  his  land  he  bought  of  the  govern- 
ment for  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents 
an  acre,  and  other  portions  of  it  were  origin- 
ally school  lands.  About  half  of  his  original 
purchase  is  now  owned  by  his  descendants. 
His  possessions  were  included  in  Knox, 
Putnam,  Allen  and  Licking  counties. 

Politically  he  was  a  Jacksonian  Demo- 
crat, and  he  was  a  man  of  public  spirit  who 
had  the  best  interests  of  the  community  at 
heart.  He  died  in  1846,  and  his  wife,  who 
was  born  in  Virginia,  December  18,  1790, 
died  August  6,  1878.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, named  as  follows:  William;  Susan, 
who  married  James  Honey,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia;  Sarah,  who  married  John  Clutter; 
Christian,  Jr. ;  Jacob,  Jr. ;  Isaac ;  David  W. ; 
George ;  John ;  Jackson ;  and  Mary,  who 
married  Joseph  Bolwine.  None  of  their 
children  are  living. 

Jacob  Sellers,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Morgan 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  March  2, 
1 816,  and  died  May  12,  1894.     He  received 


a  scanty  education  in  subscription  schools. 
His  first  teacher  was  Ziba  Leonard,  who 
taught  in  a  little  floorless  log  structure  with 
slab  seats  and  benches  and  windows  of 
greased  paper,  and  a  large  fireplace  at  one 
end,  which  in  the  winter  months  was  kept 
full  of  blazing  logs.  His  second  teacher, 
James  Kirkland,  taught  him  to  read,  write 
and  figure  a  little,  and  in  that  locality  at 
that  time  those  meager  accomplishments 
were  popularly  believed  to  amply  equip 
their  possessor  to  battle  for  supremacy  in 
the  business  world.  Near  the  end  of  the 
boy's  school  days  the  old  Owl  Creek  Baptist 
church  was  turned  into  a  school-house  and 
for  a  time  he  studied  under  its  roof.  He 
was  early  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  land 
clearing  and  cultivation  and  obtained^  a 
practical  knowledge  how  the  Ohio  wilder- 
ness could  be  developed  into  fertile  farms. 
A  man  of  strong  personality,  sound  judg- 
ment and  clear  business  foresight,  he  made 
a  practical  success  of  life,  never  in  all  his 
career  running  counter  to  the  law,  suing  a 
man  or  being  sued.  Late  in  life  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Owl  Creek  Baptist  church. 
He  served  successfully  in  several  of  the  va- 
rious township  offices.  He  was  married  June 
3,  1858,  to  Miss  Cynthia  Cannon,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Zephaniah  and  Matilda  (Painter) Can- 
non, who'  was  born  in  Monongalia  county, 
Virginia  (now  West  Virginia),  September 
3,  1837,  and  was  brought  to  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  by  her  parents  when  she  was  about 
two  years  old.  Her  father  prior  to  coming 
to  Ohio  was  an  old-time  schoolmaster,  and 
a  well-to-do  farmer.  He  directed  her  edu- 
cation, which  to  considerable  extent  was  ob- 
tained in  such  subscription  schools  as  have 
been  described.  Her  great-grandfather, 
John  Cannon,  and  his  brother  Richard,  who 


76 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


came  to  America  to  escape  conscription  m 
the  British  army,  were  the  first  of  her  fam- 
ily in  the  United  States,  and  they  settled  in 
Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  lived  out 
their  days  there.  They  became  active  in 
opposition  to  their  mother  country  during 
the  Revolution. 

Jacob  and  Cynthia  (Cannon)  Sellers 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  named  in 
the  following  statements :  Their  daughter, 
Ida  May,  married  Joseph  C.  Stinson  and 
lives  in  Burlington  township,  Licking  coun- 
ty, Ohio ;  Delphos  Sherwood,  born  April  22, 
1861,  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch ; 
Jessie  H.  married  Frank  E.  Bone  and  lives 
in  Miller  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio; 
and  James  Morgan  died  in  infancy.  Del- 
phos Sherwood  Sellers  is  a  native  of  Mor- 
gan township  and  has  lived  there  all  his 
life  and  his  career  has  been  marked  with 
such  success  that  he  is  well  known  through- 
ovit  Knox  and  adjacent  counties.  He  was 
educated  in  district  schools  near  his  home 
and  at  the  Utica  high  school.  He  lives  with 
his  mother  on  one  hundred  and  forty-five 
and  a  half  acres  of  the  original  Sellers  pur- 
chase in  Morgan  township.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Owl  Creek  Baptist  church  and  has 
served  in  the  various  official  positions  of  the 
church  and  Sunday-school.  Politically  he 
is  a  Republican  and  has  ably  filled  the  office 
of  assessor  and  been  elected  to  fill  other  of- 
ficial positions  by  his  townsmen,  who  repose 
full  confidence  in  him  and  regard  him  as  an 
especially  patriotic  and  public-spirited  man. 


FANNY  BERRY  BALL. 

Mrs.    Fanny    Berry    Ball,    daughter    of 
John  Adams  and  Eleanora  E.    (Andrews) 


tor  of  heavy  burdens  of  debt  and  placed 
Berry,  was  born  in  Danville,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1846,  and  is  a  prominent  resident  of 
Fredericktown  and  one  of  the  well  known 
women  of  Knox  county,  Ohio.  She  re- 
ceived her  primary  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  1861  became  a  student  at 
the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University.  After  leav- 
ing school,  on  the  death  of  her  father,  she 
taught  until  her  marriage,  January  15,  1867, 
to  Edgar  Addison  Ball,  who  was  born  Au- 
gust 29,  1836,  and  died  June  12,  1890.  Mr. 
Ball  was  a  successful  farmer  and  a  public 
spirited  citizen.  November  9,  1892,  Mrs. 
Ball  married  Schuyler  Ball,  a  brother  of  her 
first  husband  who  was  born  April  12,  1840, 
and  died  September  i,  1899. 

John  Adams  Berry,  the  father  of  Fanny 
(Berry)  Ball,  was  born  in  Pike  township, 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  January  21,  1821.  He 
was  educated  at  Baltimore,  Marjiand,  and 
became  a  teacher.  He  graduated  in  med- 
icine at  Willoughby  Medical  College  in 
1 84 1,  and  practiced  his  profession  until 
1854,  when  he  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  labored 
earnestly  for  the  salvation  of  souls  for  some 
years,  principally  at  East  Union,  Rosco, 
Chesterville  and  Fredericktown,  Ohio,  and 
was  then  appointed  agent  for  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University,  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  a 
position  which  was  offered  him  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  his  health  had  visibly  failed. 
His  physical  condition  having  improved,  he 
was  in  1862  appointed  pastor  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  at  Mount  Gilead, 
Ohio.  He  died  November  8,  1863,  and  is 
remembered  as  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
extraordinary  ability,  especially  as  a  finan- 
cier.    It  is  a  matter  of  record  that  he  re- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


lieved  all  the  churches  of  which  he  was  pas- 
them  upon  a  substantial  foundation,  lie 
married  Eleanora  E.  Andrews,  March  17, 
1842,  and  she  bore  him  seven  children: 
Clementine  C,  who  married  Edward  L. 
Buchwalter,  of  Springfield,  Ohio;  Rosalie 
H.,  who  married  Dr.  J.  T.  Condon,  of  Paw- 
nee, Nebraska;  Fanny;  John  A.,  now  dead; 
Eugene;  Clara  L.,  who  married  John 
Wyker,  of  Decatur,  Alabama;  and  Edward 
A.,  an  electrician  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Eleanora  E.  (Andrews)  Berry,  the 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  January  6, 
1824,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Brown  An- 
drews, a  native  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and 
a  Revolutionary  soldier  who  did  gallant 
service  in  defense  of  American  liberty.  She 
was  educated  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  before 
her  marriage  was  a  successful  teacher.  She 
is  now  living  with  a  daughter  in  Decatur, 
Alabama.  James  Berry,  the  father  of  Rev. 
John  Adams  Berry,  was  a  farmer  in  Pike 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohio. 


WILLIAM  GILMOR. 

Among  the  successful  and  reliable  farm- 
ers of  Qay  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
none  is  held  in  higher  esteem  by  his  fellow 
citizens  than  William  Gilmor,  an  old  settler, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio  county,  Virginia, 
November  8,  1824,  and  possesses  many  of 
those  traits  which  have  made  Virginians 
honored  in  all  parts  of  our  country. 

William  Gilmor,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  and  brought  up  in 
Maryland,  and  was  taken  to  Ohio  county, 
Virginia,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  by  his  par- 


ents. He  was  married  in  Washington  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  and  soon  afterward  lo- 
cated on  a  part  of  his  father's  farm,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  and  milling.  He  built 
a  saw  and  a  grist  mill  and  acquired  other 
property,  and  in  a  general  way  was  a  pros- 
perous man.  Politically  he  was  a  Whig  and 
later  a  Republican.  He  was  a  religious  man 
and  a  church  member  and  lived  a  good  life, 
which  terminated  when  he  was  within  one 
months  of  being  eighty-two  years  old.  Will- 
iam Gilmor,  father  of  the  William  Gilmor 
just  mentioned  and  grandfather  of  the  Will- 
iam Gilmor  of  this  sketch,  was  born  and 
reared  in  Maryland  and  was  a  farmer  there. 
Eventually  he  settled  in  Ohio  county,  Vir- 
ginia, on  a  farm  of  four  hundred  acres,  on 
which  he  lived  out  his  days.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  Ireland,  and  they  settled 
early  in  Maryland. 

Nancy  Scott,  who  married  the  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  who  lived  to 
be  seventy-two  years  old,  was  bom  and 
passed  her  early  life  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Her  father,  Arthur  Scott, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  Scotch-Irish 
parentage,  and  became  a  farmer,  but  for 
some  time  was  engaged  in  teaming  over  the 
mountains  between  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio, 
via  ihe  old  National  road,  and  was  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  development  of  Ohio. 
William  and  Nancy  (Scott)  Gilmor  were 
the  parents  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood and  of  whom  William  Gilmor  and  his 
brother,  John  S.  Gilmor,  of  New  York,  are 
the  only  survivors.  William  Gilmor,  who 
was  the  second  child  and  eldest  son  of  his 
parents,  was  reared  at  the  place  of  his  na- 
tivitv,  on  the  line  of  the  old  National  road. 


78 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


and  began  his  education  in  subscription 
schools,  completing  it  in  what  were  later 
known  as  public  schools.  March  28,  1854, 
he  married  Sarah  Monninger,  who  was  born 
in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  June 
4,  1827,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Susan 
(Haas)  Monninger,  natives  of  Maryland 
and  who  had  ten  children,  nine  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  of  whom  Mrs.  Gilmor  is 
the  ninth  in  order  of  birth. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Gilmor  set- 
tled in  Jackson  township,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-six  acres,  on  which  he  lived 
.nine  years,  then  disposed  of  it  and  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  at  Martinsburg,  in 
Clay  township,  on  which  he  has  made  many 
improvements.  It  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy  acres,  and  he  also  owns  another 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  within 
the  borders  of  Clay  township.  Pie  is  a  man 
of  social  and  political  influence  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lives,  and  besides  hold- 
ing other  local  offices  has  for  many  years 
been  a  member  of  the  township  school  board. 
Brought  up  in  the  political  faith  of  the 
Whigs,  he  naturally  became  a  Republican, 
and  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  pres- 
idency of  the  United  States  in  i860  and 
again  in  1864,  and  has  since  voted  for  every 
Republican  nominee  for  the  presidency.  He 
has  long  been  an  active  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  in  which  he  has  held  the  of- 
fices of  deacon  and  trustee.  William  and 
Sarah  (Monninger)  Gilmor  have  had  born 
to  them  six  children,  who  are  here  men- 
tioned in  the  order  of  their  birth :  Florence, 
who  is  dead  ;  Lizzie,  who  is  a  member  of  her 
parents'  household ;  John,  who  married 
Mary  Hart,  of  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  and 


lives  on  a  part  of  his  father's  home  farm; 
and  Belle,  Franklin  and  Agnes,  who  are 
dead. 


SILAS  YOUNG. 


The  farming  interests  of  Knox  county 
are  well  represented  by  Silas  Young,  who 
owns  a  valuable  and  well  cultivated  place 
in  Monroe  township.  He  was  born  in  Mid- 
dlefield,  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  October  19, 
1 82 1.  His  father,  Reese  C.  Young,  claimed 
Pennsylvania  as  the  state  of  his  nativity,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Washington  coun- 
ty in  1799.  He  subsequently  removed  to 
Geauga  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried, and  in  1838  he  took  up  his  abode  in 
Knox  county,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Monroe 
township,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days.  His  political  support  was  given 
the  Democracy,  and  religiously  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church. 
For  his  wife  he  chose  Eliza  Gates,  who  was 
born  in  the  Empire  state,  and  was  a  member 
of  an  old  and  prominent  family,  whose  his- 
tory is  traced  back  through  many  genera- 
tions to  a  passenger  on  the  Mayflower.  Tlie 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  was  blessed 
with  fifteen  children,  nine  of  whom  are  now 
living,  namely:  Silas,  the  subject  of  this 
review ;  Elvira,  the  wife  of  Martin  Robinson, 
of  California ;  Mary  A.,  the  widow  of  Will- 
iam Downs  and  a  resident  of  Mount  Vernon ; 
Carrie,  wife  of  Stephen  Craig,  of  Knox 
county;  Emma,  wife  of  Robert  Coleman,  of 
Mount  Vernon ;  Eva,  the  widow  of  Thomas 
Williams,  and  she  makes  her  home  with  her 
sister,  Mrs.  Craig;  Jane,  wife  of  Elias  Leon- 
ard, of  Missouri ;  Abigail,  widow  of  Sam- 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


uel  Bartlett  and  a  resident  of  ]\'Iount  Ver- 
non; and  Susan,  the  wife  of  John  M. 
Scott,  of  Knox  county. 

Silas  Young  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  his  fifteenth  year,  when  he  began 
the  battle  of  life  on  his  own  account,  and 
for  the  following  twelve  years  he  was  en- 
gaged at  various  occupations,  but  his  time 
was  principally  given  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. In  the  fall  of  1839  he  came  to  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  soon  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Mr.  Jacob  Davis,  and  on  the  20th 
of  August,  1848,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  his  daughter  Catherine.  Shortly  after 
his  marriage  our  subject  rented  the  farm 
where  his  brother-in-law,  James  W.  Davis, 
now  resides,  where  he  made  his  home  for 
two  years,  on  the  expiration  of  which  period 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  sixty-six  acres  on 
the  Wooster  road,  there  making  his  home 
until  1870.  For  the  following  two  years 
he  rented  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres  of  the  Lefever  heirs  in  Clinton 
township,  and  at  the  end  of  that  period  the 
residence  there  was  burned  and  Mr.  Young 
then  moved  to  Mount  Verncm.  After  an- 
other year  had  passed  by  he  purchased  his 
present  farmi  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  acres  in  Monroe  township,  and  on  this 
place  he  has  ever  since  made  his  home.  He 
has  a.  fine  farm,  a  mile  east  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, and  thereon  he  is  successfully  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits. 

The  union  of  our  subject  and  wife  has 
been  blessed  with  ten  children,  six  of  whom 
survive, — Jacob  R.,  who  is  engaged  in  busi- 
ness in  Springfield,  Illinois;  Augusta,  the 
wife  of  C.  A.  Lefever,  of  Clinton  township ; 
John  Shannon,  a  resident  of  Tallula,  Illi- 
nois; Mary,  the  wife  of  Walter  S.  Steele, 


who  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota;  Charles,  at  home; 
and  Catherine,  the  wife  of  Walter  Spittle, 
of  ^Vashington,  Indiana.  Mr.  Young  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  Democratic  party, 
and  his  religious  views  connect  him  with  the 
Methodist  Protestant  church. 


M.  H.  ADRIAN. 


Success  comes  as  the  legitimate  result  of 
well  apphed  energy,  unflagging  determina- 
tion and  perseverance  in  a  course  of  action 
that  has  once  been  decided  upon.  She  smiles 
not  upon  the  idler  or  dreamer,  and  only  the 
man  who  has  won  her  favor  justly  and  by 
unflagging  effort  does  she  deign  to  crown 
with  blessings.  In  tracing  the  history  of 
Mr.  Adrian  it  is  plainly  seen  that  the  success 
he  enjoys  has  been  won  by  the  commendable 
qualities  just  mentioned,  together  with  many 
others  which  have  gained  him  the  high  es- 
teem of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  the  larg- 
est landholder  in  Jefferson  township,  and 
ranks  among  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
this  part  of  Ohio,  where  his  labors  have 
been  so  well  directed  that  he  is  now  most 
prosperous. 

Mr.  Adrian  is  a  native  of  Knox  county, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Harrison  town- 
ship, on  the  14th  of  August,  1855.  His 
father,  Isaac  Adrian,  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  this  state,  and  coming  to  this  coun- 
ty at  an  early  day  took  up  his  abode  in 
Harrison  township,  where  throughout  his' 
active  business  career  he  carried  on  farming." 
His  death  occurred  when  he  was  seventy- 
seven  years  of  age,  and  thus  terminated  a. 


8o- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


busy  and  useful  career.  He  married  Cyn- 
thia Harrod,  who  was  born  in  Harrison 
township  upon'  the  farm  which  is  yet  her 
home.  She  is  no w-_, eighty-one  years  of  age. 
She  has  performed  a  noble  work  in  the 
world,  having  reared  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  reached  adult  age,  while 
nine  are  yet  living  and  are  a  credit  to  their 
loved  and  venerated  mother. 

The  sixth  child  and  third  son  of  this 
family  is  M.  H.  Adrian,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch.  In  the  usual  manner  of 
farmer  lads  of  the  period  he  spent  the  days 
of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  when  the 
farm  work  was  over  in  the  autumn  he  en- 
tered the  public  school  of  his  neighborhood 
and  there  acquired  a  good  English  educa- 
tion. He  was  married  in  Union  township, 
November  19,  1879,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  Miss  Delia  May  Parsons,  a  sister  of 
Dr.  Parsons,  of  Brinkhaven.  The  young 
couple  began  their  domestic  life  at  Democ- 
racy, Ohio,  and  he  engaged  in  farming  in 
Pike  township  for  five  years,  on  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  he  removed  to  Union 
township,  there  remaining  for  two  years. 
He  then  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he 
now  resides  and  which  comprises  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  rich  and  arable  land,  which 
when  placed  under  the  plow  yields  excellent 
harvests  in  return  for  his  labor.  He  also 
owns  another  tract  of  eighty  acres  one  mile 
north  of  his  hom'e  place,  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty-six  and  a  half  acres  in  Union 
township,  known  as  the  Parsons  farm,  so 
that  his  landed  possessions  aggregate  four 
hundred  and  six  and  a  half  acres,  making 
him  the  most  extensive  landholder  in  Jeffer- 
son township.  Throughout  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  he  has  followed  stock-raising  in 


connection  with  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  and 
for  two'  years  he  was  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising at  Buckeye  City,  and  for  one  year  at 
Brinkhaven.  Energy  is  one  of  his  marked 
characteristics,  and  has  been  an  excellent 
foundation  upon  which  to  rear  the  super- 
structure of  his  success. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adrian  has 
been  blessed  with  five  children :  Lauris  N., 
Lewis  I.,  Ivan  L.,  Virgil  H.  and  Leila  O. 
M.  Mr.  Adrian  and  his  family  have  a  wide 
acquaintance  in  the  county  where  they  have 
always  resided  and  their  circle  of  friends  is 
quite  extensive.  He  votes  with  the  De- 
mocracy, and  socially  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  with  which  he 
has  been  identified  for  five  years,  and  in 
which  he  has  filled  all  the  offices.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Tiverton 
township,  Coshocton  county,  in  which  he  is 
serving  as  a  deacon,  a  position  he  has  filled 
for  eight  years,  and  in  its  work  he  has  taken 
an  active  part.  He  is  well  known  in  the 
county  as  a  respected  citizen,  whose  word 
is  thoroughly  reliable,  whose  business  is 
conducted  along  lines  of  the  strictest  hon- 
esty, and  whose  worth  is  widely  acknowl- 
edged by  his  fellow  men. 


DAVID  SHAFFER,  D.  D.  S. 

A  large  patronage  indicates  Dr.  Shaf- 
fer's standing  in  professional  circles,  for  as 
a  dental  practitioner  of  Danville  he  is  well 
and  favorably  known.  He  was  born  in 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  July  15,  1853.  His 
father,  John  Shaffer,  was  a  native  of  the 
Old  Dominion,  but  when  only  four  years 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


of  age  he  came  with  his  parents,  Jacob  Shaf- 
fer and  wife,  to  Ohio.  The  paternal  grand- 
parents of  our  subject  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  removed  from^  that  state  to 
Virginia,  coming  thence  to  Ohio.  The 
mother  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this 
review  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Priscilla 
Hoger,  and  was  born  in  Holmes  county, 
Ohio.  Her  death  occurred  in  Wayne  coun- 
ty, this  state,  when  she  had  reached  the  age 
of  fifty-eight  years.  She  is  still  survived  by 
her  husband,  who  now  makes  his  home  in 
Wooster,  Wayne  county.  This  worthy 
couple  became  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
nine  oi  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity. 
Dr.  Shaffer,  the  third  child  in  order  of 
birth  in  the  above  family,  was  but  eight 
years  of  age  when  he  left  the  county  of  his 
nativity  and  with  his  parents  located  in 
Wayne  county,  where  he  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools.  After  attain- 
ing to  years  of  maturity  he  was  tor  hve  years 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Freder- 
icksburg, Ohio,  v/hile  for  the  following  two 
years  he  was  a  resident  of  Latty,  Paulding 
county,  this  state,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment at  the  carpenter's  trade.  While  thus 
employed  he  spent  his  leisure  hours  engaged 
in  the  study  of  dentistry  under  the  preceptor- 
ship  of  Dr.  E.  P.  Cunningham,  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, and  so  thoroughly  did  he  master 
the  principles  of  dentistry  that  in  1880  he 
was  enabled  to  begin  the  practice  of  that 
profession,  opening  an  office  at  Danville. 
He  is  now  numbered  among  the  leading  rep- 
resentatives of  that  calling  in  Knox  county, 
and  has  built  up  a  large  and  constantly  in- 
creasing patronage.  He  has  ever  been  a 
close  student,  and  does  all  in  his  power  to 
perfect  himself  in  his  chosen  profession. 


On  the  2d  of  July,  1882,  Dr.  Shaffer 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Letitia  Mil- 
ler, and  they  had  seven  children,  four  now 
living, — Mary  B.,  Kent  D.,  Homer  V.  and 
Chauncey.  The  wife  and  mother  was  called 
from  this  earth  September  27,  1894,  and 
our  subject  was  wedded  to  Miss  Lona  Belle 
Workman,  July  23,  1896.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  one  son,  John  B.  The 
Doctor  and  his  wife  and  children-  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  he  has  long  held  the  office  of  trustee. 
Politically  his  views  are  in  harmony  with 
the  Prohibition  party,  often  serving  as  a 
delegate  to  conventions  and  has  been  named 
as  candidate  of  the  party  for  representative 
to  the  legislature.  His  manner  is  ever 
courteous  and  kindly,  qualities  which  pro- 
mote his  success  in  a  professional  way.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  industry  and  benevolence 
and  the  systematic  and  honorable  business 
methods  which  he  has  followed  have  won  fo-r 
him  the  support  and  confidence  of  his  fel- 
low men. 


LEANDER  HAYS. 


All  that  is  conducive  to  good  citizenship, 
all  that  tends  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
county  receives  the  support  and  co-operation 
of  Leander  Hays,  now  one  of  the  county 
commissioners  of  Knox  county,  as  well  as  a 
leading  and  representative  farmer.  He  was 
born  in  Harrison  township  January  6,  1851, 
and  is  a  son  of  Morgan  and  Deborah  A. 
(Breece)  Hays.  The  former  was  bom  in 
Clay  township,  this  county.  May  21,  1820, 
and  was  a  son  o-f  James  Hays,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  became  one  of  the 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


early  settlers  of  Knox  county.  Morgan 
Hays  spent  his  youth  upon  a  farm,  and, 
through  the  summer  months  worked  in  the 
fields  from  the  time  of  early  planting  until 
crops  were  harvested.  In  the  winter  sea- 
son, when  the  work  of  the  farm  was  prac- 
tically over  for  the  year  he  pursued  his 
studies  in  the  pioneer  log  schoolhouse  of  the 
times.  He  was  married,  in  October,  1849. 
He  had  previously  worked  as  a  farm  hand, 
making  his  home  with  his  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, and  after  his  marriage  he  settled  in 
Harrison  township,  where  he  had  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  of  land.  This  he  sold  in 
1853,  and  then  bought  a  quarter-section  in 
the  same  township,  making  his  home  thereon 
until  1866,  when  he  sold  that  property  and 
invested  his  money  in  two  hundred  and 
ninety-seven  acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  town- 
ship. After  engaging  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  fields  upon  that  place  he  rented  that 
farm  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-eight acres  in  Clay  township,  to  which 
he  removed  and  upon  which  he  made  his 
home  until  his  life's-  labors  were  ended  in 
death,  April  22,  1900.  He  never  would 
consent  to  become  a  candidate  for  public  of- 
fice, but  devoted  his  energies  to  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  thus  providing  comfort- 
ably for  his  family,  consisting  of  wife  and 
two  children,  the  latter  being  Leander,  of 
this  review,  and  Elizabeth  A.,  now  the 
widow  of  Marcus  Workman,  of  Gambler, 
Ohio. 

The  childhood  and  youth  of  Leander 
Hays  were  not  unlike  that  of  other  boys  of 
the  period  who  were  required  upon  the  farm. 
As  early  as  his  twelfth  year  he  began  work- 
ing as  a  farm  hand  in  the  neighborhood,  in 
order  to  gain  "spending  money,"  and  since 


that  time  agricultural  pursuits  have  claimed 
his  attention.     At  the  time  of  his  marriage 
he  took  his  bride  to  the  old  home  farm, 
which  had  become  his  property,  and  here  he 
has  since  lived,  the  well  tilled  fields  yield- 
ing to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  the 
care  and  labor  he  has  bestowed  upon  them. 
In   1880  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Hays  and  Miss  Carrie  M.  Robinson,  a  na- 
tive of  this  county  and  a  daughter  of  L.  ■ 
W.  Robinson,  now  deceased,  who  was  also         I 
born  in  this  county,  where  his  parents  lo-         1 
cated  during  an  early  epoch  in  its  develop- 
ment.   Their  home  is  blessed  with  two  chil- 
dren. Bertha  B.  and  Howard  R.,  who  are         j 
with  their  parents.     Mr.  Hays  exercises  his  I 
right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Democrac}-,   and  on         J 
that  ticket  he  was  elected  county  commis- 
sioner in  1898.    He  belongs  to  the  Disciples' 
church,  in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  dea- 
con,  and   is   widely   recognized   as   one  of 
the  leading  and  influential  men  of  his  com- 
munitv. 


JACOB  HAYS. 


In  the  life  of  the  well  known  citizen  of 
Morgan  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
whose  name  appears  above  are  exemplified 
all  those  oft-praised  qualities  of  honesty,  in- 
dustry and  integrity  which  since  American 
civilization  began  have  contributed  to  the 
success  of  self-made  men.  Jacob  Hays  was 
born  in  Knox  county,  September  25,  1826, 
a  son  of  James  B.  and  Jemima  (Biggs) 
Hays,  and  was  reared  to  the  hard  and  use- 
ful work  of  the  fann.  He  helped  to  clear 
and  improve  land  and  put  it  under  cultiva- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


tion  and  all  through  his  childhood  and 
youth  was  thus  employed  during  each  suc- 
cessive spring,  summer  and  fall,  and  in  the 
winter  months  he  attended  the  schools  near 
his  home  to  such  good  purpose  that  in  time 
he  became  a  teacher  of  district  schools,  and 
did  successful  educational  work  for  six 
terms  in  Knox  county  and  one  term  in 
Illinois. 

In  religious  belief  Mr.  Hays  is  a  Uni- 
versalist.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
his  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  James 
K.  Polk.  He  has  ably  filled  the  offices  of 
supervisor  and  township  trustee,  and  has 
held  other  important  township  offices,  not- 
ably that  of  justice  of  the  peace,  in-  which  he 
has  officiated  for  eighteen  years  to-  the  en- 
tire satisfaction  of  his  fellow  citizens  of  all 
classes.  He  has  been  land  appraiser  also, 
and  in  that  capacity  showed  great  judgment 
and  fairness  during  a  period  of  service  cov- 
ering six  years.  He  has  been  many  times 
a  member  of  juries  which  have  had  tO'  do 
with  important  cases,  and  in  many  other 
ways  was  long  and  almost  constantly  in  pub- 
lic life.  During  recent  years  he  has  been  in 
the  enjoyment  of  a  well  earned  retirement 
and  rest  from  public  responsibility. 

Mr.  Hays  was  married,  April  19,  1854, 
to  Matilda  Lauderbaugh,  daughter  of  John 
and  Catharine  (Ream)  Lauderbaugh.  She 
was  born  February  24,  1836,  in  College 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  some  of  the  old-fashioned  subscrip- 
tion schools  kept  near  her  home.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hays  have  had  children  as  follows: 
Drusilla  F.,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Wolf; 
George,  who  is  a  member  of  his  father's 
household;  Canada  A.  L.,  who  married 
Minnie  Arrington  and    lives    in   Harrison 


township;  Ida  May,  who  married  Qiarles 
Brown  and  lives  in  Pleasant  township;. 
Meeker  E.,  who  died  aged  eighteen  years, 
January  i,  1883;  John  B.,  who  died  Jan- 
uary 16,  1880,  aged  twelve  years;  Charles- 
W.,  who  married  Hattie  Squires  and  lives- 
at  Brandon,  Knox  county ;  Clement  D.,  who 
married  Addie  Haines  and  lives  at  Utica, 
Ohio;  Eddie,  who  is  a  member  of  his  fa- 
ther's household;  Tillie  E.,  who  married' 
Charles  A.  Clutter  and  lives  jn  Licking- 
county,  Ohio;  and  Amelia  C,  who  is  also 
at  home. 

James  Hays,  grandfather  of  Jacob  Hays,, 
came  to  Knox  county  from  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  18 15,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  now  the  home  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  January  22,  1843.  He  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  September  23,  1772,  and  mar- 
ried Sarah  Bell,  who  bore  him  children  as 
follows:  Anna,  James  B.  (father  of  Jacob), 
Mary,  John,  William,  Harlan,  Benjamin, 
Elizabeth,  Isaac,  Morgan  and  David.  Of 
these  only  Isaac  is  living.  James  Hays'  sec- 
ond wife,  who  was  Sarah  Mills,  bore  him 
a  son  who  was  named  Silas.  James  B.  and 
Jemima  (Biggs)  Hays  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: Jacob,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Mary,  Sarah,  William  Canada,  Eliz- 
abeth, Lindsay  and  Amelia.  Jacob,  William, 
and  Lindsay  are  living  at  this  time.  Mr. 
Hays  is  descended  from  Revolutionary 
stock.  His  ancestor,  William  Hays,  not 
only  did  gallant  service  as  a  soldier  in  de- 
fense of  American  liberty,  but  furnished  con- 
siderable supplies  to  the  Continental  army. 
He  was  married  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  4,  1759,  and  had  children  as 
follows:  John,  William,  Jane,  George,  Mary 


S4 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


Ann,  Ann,  Isabel,  James,  Robert,  Solomon 
and  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Hays'  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres,  one  hundred  of  which  is 
under  cultivation,  is  located  in  Morgan 
township,  about  three  miles  from  Utica,  and 
is  well  provided  with  barns  and  all  other 
necessary  outbitildings  and  well  equipped 
for  successful  cultivation.  Mr.  Hays  gives 
attention  to  both  general  farming  and  stock 
raising. 


PARMENIS  N.  DONAHEY. 

Pennsylvania  has  furnished  to  the  mid- 
dle west  and  indeed  to  all  parts  of  the 
United  States  west  of  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween itself  and  Ohio  an  element  of  popula- 
tion that  in  all  localities  has  made  for  en- 
lightenment and  material  prosperity.  Ohio 
■owes  not  a  little  to  pioneers  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Knox  county  received  many  such 
■whose  influence  has  been  potent  toward  her 
settlement  and  development.  One  such  was 
John  Donahey,  who  was  born  in  the  Key- 
stone state  July  ii,  1799,  and  at  the  age 
of  ten  years  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Jackson  township,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated,  and  where  he  married  Matilda 
Ross,  a  native  of  Virginia. 

Parmenis  N.  Donahey,  a  merchant  of 
Bladensburg,  Jackson  township,  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  was  born  in  that  township 
June  4,  1843,  the  third  son  of  John  and 
Matilda  (Ross)  Donahey,  who  had  ten  chil- 
dren. His  mother,  who  was  of  Virginian 
parentage,  was  at  the  time  of  her  marriage 
to  Mr.  Donahey  the  widow  of  John  Craft, 
■whom  she  bore  two  children,  half-sisters  of 


the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Young  Donahey 
was  reared  and  educated  at  Bladensburg, 
and  began  his  active  career  in  1866  as  a 
clerk  in  the  dry  goods  store  of  S.  L.  Rolley, 
in  whose  employment  he  remained  for  two 
years.  Afterward  he  taught  school  at 
Bladensburg  for  three  years,  and  after  that 
in  Illinois  until  in  1880,  when  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  Bladensburg  as  a  grocer. 
A  year  later  he  removed  his  store  to  Utica, 
Ohio,  where  he  traded  successfully  until 
1888,  when  he  again  returned  to  Bladens- 
burg and  has  since  managed  a  general  store 
and  achieved  a  reputation  as  a  popular  mer- 
chant. Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  as 
such  was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace,  which  he  fills  with  much  ability 
and  discretion.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  Disciples'  church. 

August  29,  1869,  Mr.  Donahey  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sophia  M.  Houck,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  at  Bladensburg, 
and  whose  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donahey  have  two  children, 
William  J.  and  Leota  L.  The  former  is  a 
hospital  steward  at  Fort  Morgan,  Alabama, 
in  connection  with  the  regular  army  service. 
Leota  L.  is  the  wife  of  Calvin  McClelland, 
of  Licking  county,  Ohio. 


GEORGE   WESLEY   SHUFF. 

This  well  known  citizen  of  Miller  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Ohio,  who  is  a  pros- 
perous farmer,  owning  two  hundred  acres 
of  fertile  land,  is  regarded  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens with  the  honors  due  to  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil   war,   and  was  iborn  in   Shenandoah 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


county,  Virginia,  September  30,  1835,  a  son 
of  William  and  Margaret  (Glenn)  Shuff. 
He  located  in  Ohio  March  4,  i860,  the  day 
on  which  Abraham  Lincoln  was  first  inaug- 
urated president  of  the  United  States,  and 
there  and  then  began  his  life  work  as  a 
farmer.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he 
enlisted  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  for  nine  months'  service,  aiid  was 
mustered  in  at  Camp  Qiase,  Columbus, 
Ohio.  He  leturned  home  at  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  service,  and  in  1864,  in  or- 
der to  he)p  fill  the  quota  of  his  township,  he 
re-enlisted  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Ninety-seventh'  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry.  With  this  he  saw  continuous 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  most  of 
the  time  in  the  hospital  corps.  He  was  at 
Cumberland  Gap  when  it  was  surrendered 
to  the  Union  forces  by  the  Confederates,  and 
was  finally  mustered  out  of  the  service  at 
Baltimore,  Maryland.  He  has  kept  alive 
recollections  of  his  army  days  by  member- 
ship with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
Mr.  Shuff  has  prospered  as  a  farmer, 
and  his  fine  farm  is  provided  with  good 
buildings  and  all  necessary  modem  improve- 
ments. September  8,  1868,  he  married 
Mary  Oldaker,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, named  W^alter  Andrew,  Rollin  Ernest 
and  Jessie  Maud.  William  Shuff,  father  of 
George  W.  Shuff,  was  born  in  Maryland  in 
1806  and  settled  in  Shenandoah  county, 
Virginia,  where  he  died.  Margaret  Glenn, 
who  became  his  wife,  was  born  in  Page 
county,  Virginia,  June  6,  181 3,  and  is  living 
in  Shenandoah  county,  Virginia:  She  bore 
her  husband  eleven  children — Thomas  J., 
who  was  killed  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull 


Run;  George  Wesley;  Martha  A.;  Jessie; 
Isabel ;  Caroline ;  Jane ;  William  A. ;  Emma ; 
and  two  whO'  died  in  infancy.  Mary  (Old- 
aker) Shuff  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Jaiie  (Sillins)  Oldaker.  Her  father  was 
born  September  28,  181 2,  and  died  in  Lick- 
ing county,  Ohio,  March  18,  1868;  her 
mother  was  born  in  Virginia  October  4, 
181 2,  and  died  December  6,  1891.  Henry 
Oldaker,  father  of  Andrew  Oldaker  and 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Shuff,  was  born  July 
22,  1777,  and  died  July  i,  1829.  He  mar- 
ried Ann  Thompson,  who  was  born  July 
19,  1785,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Thompson, 
who  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1750.  Anna 
Colville,  the  great-grandmother  of  Mary 
(Oldaker)  Shuff,  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1743,  and  died  November  14,  1813. 


MOSES  COLWELL  BONE. 

In  this  age  of  scientific  farming  there 
is  probably  no  farmer  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  who  could  more  justly  be  termed  an 
agricultural  expert  than  the  well  known 
citizen  of  Miller  township  whose  name  is 
above.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of 
three  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres,  which 
is  cultivated  by  up-to-date  methods  and  is 
one  of  the  most  desirable  properties  of  its 
kind  within  the  limits  of  the  county. 

Moses  Colwell  Bone,  son  of  John  and 
Mary  Ann  (Colwell)  Bone,  was  born  in 
Cornwall,  England,  May  11,  1833,  and  came 
to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years.  For  a  time  he  lived  at  Gambier, 
Ohio,  at  which  place  he  worked  at  his  trade 
of  wagon-making,  and  from  there  he  went 


^6 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


to  Lock,  Ohio.  About  two  years  after  this 
last  removal  he  located  in  Miller  township, 
Knox  county,  where  he  soon  established 
himself  upon  a  farm.  Later  he  acquired  the 
White  homestead,  and  he  has  added  to  his 
holdings  until  he  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leading  farmers  in  his  part  of  the  coun- 
ty. In  the  course  of  events  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  infirmary  directors  of  Knox  coun- 
ty, and  he  was  afterward  elected  to  that 
office,  in  which  he  served  six  successive 
years  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  at  Fairview.  Mr.  Bone  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  White  March  i8,  1858, 
and  has  had  an  interesting  family  of  nine 
children  :  John,  the  eldest,  was  born  January 
15,  1859;  Lovilla  C.  was  born  August  6, 
i860;  Bumello  M.  was  born  February  29, 
1864,  and  died  December  29,  1877;  Mary 
Jane  was  born  August  11,  1866;  Frank  E. 
was  born  July  23,  1868;  Alta  A.  was  born 
July  29,  1871 ;  Charley  C.  was  born  April 
17,  1873;  Anna  Delle  was  born  February 
12,  1875;  and  Martha  A.  was  born  Septem- 
ber 20,  1878. 

John  Bone,  father  of  Moses  Colwell  Bone, 
was  born  and  passed  his  entire  life  in  Eng- 
land, surviving  his  wife  about  nine  years. 
They  left  seven  children,  named  Mary,  Sam- 
uel, John,  Heni-y,  William,  Eliza  and  Moses 
Colwell,  of  whom  Eliza  is  dead.  Miss 
Martha  White,  wife  of  Moses  Colwell  Bone, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  November  9, 
1838,  and  in  1847  was  brought  by  her 
mother  to  Ohio,  her  father  having  died  in 
Pennsylvania.  Mrs'.  White  settled  on  what 
Is  now  the  Bone  farm,  and  died  there  Jan- 
uary 3,  1880.  Two  sisters  of  Mrs.  Bone 
are  living:  Sarah,  wife  of  David  Porter- 
field,   of    Columbus,   Ohio;   and   Mary    C, 


wife  of  George  Lemon,  of  Advance,  Illi- 
nois. One  brother,  David  White,  resided 
in  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  at 
about  the  asfe  of  thirtv-five  vears. 


HENRY  ALLEN  CRIPPEN. 

The  well  known  citizen  of  Miller  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Ohio,  whose  name  is 
the  title  of  this  article  achieved  success  first 
as  a  railroad  man  and  afterward  as  a  fann- 
er, and  attained  prominence  as  a  citizen  by 
virtue  of  his  high  character  and  his  unpre- 
tentious but  substantial  achievements. 

Henry  Allen  Crippen  was  born  in  Mil- 
let township,  KnO'X  county,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1837,  a  son  of  Alanson  and  Eunice 
(Brooks)  Crippen.  Alanson  Crippen  was 
born  in  the  state  of  New  York  in  1798.  He 
came  to  Ohio  in  1836  and  remained  at 
Mount  Vernon  until  1837,  when  he  moved 
to  Miller  township,  Knox  county;  he  died 
in  1840,  in  New  York,  while  there  on  a 
visit.  Eunice  Brooks,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Alanson  Crippen  and  the  mother  of 
Henry  Allen  Crippen,  was  born  in  the  state 
of  New  York  October  22,  1799.  She  was 
a  life-long  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  a  woman  who  in  every  way 
exemplified  a  Christian  character.  She  died 
at  the  home  of  her  son  in  Miller  township, 
and  her  remains  are  buried  in  the  cemetery 
at  Brandon. 

Henry  Allen  Crippen  began  his  railroad 
career  as  a  fireman  with  the  old  Sandusky, 
Mansfield  &  Newark  Railroad  Company  in 
1854,  there  continuing  for  six  years.  In 
1862  he  was  given  charge  of  an  engine  on 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


87 


what  is  now  the  Panhandle  Railroad,  serv- 
ing in  that  capacity  until  1870.  His  run 
was  from  Steubenville  to  Newark,  and  he 
attained  the  reputation  of  being  an  efficient 
engineer  who  could  be  relied  upon  in  any 
emergency.  In  the  year  last  mentioned  he 
retired  to  a  farm,  which  he  has  since  man- 
aged successfully.  He  was  married  May  i, 
1865,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Clarkson,  who  was 
born  in  England,  but  reared  in  Ohio.  She 
bore  him  two  children  :  Hattie  and  Martin 
Clarkson ;  the  last  named  died  in  early  child- 
hood. Hattie  is  the  wife  of  Hugh  D.  Jones, 
a  painter,  and  lives  with  her  parents.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Grace. 

Elizabeth  (Clarkson)  Crippen  is  a 
daughter  of  Martin  and  Maria  (Smith) 
Clarkson,  who  were  married  in  England  and 
came  to  Plymouth,  Ohio,  in  1839.  Later 
they  lived  at  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  still  later 
at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  Martin  Clarkson 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  he  hav- 
ing long  survived  his  wife,  Maria  (Smith) 
Clarkson,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight 
years. 


GEORGE  H.  TAYLOR. 

George  H.  Taylor,  superintendent  of  the 
Mount  Vernon  Gas  Light  &  Coke  Company, 
lias  held  the  important  position  which  he 
now  so  ably  fills  for  twenty-three  years,  and 
liis  entire  life  has  been  spent  in  this  city. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  George  Taylor, 
^\'as  born  in  England  and  was  there  engaged 
as  a  contractor  for  gas  works.  In  1849  h^ 
came  from  his  native  land  to  the  United 
States,  locating  first  in  Portsmouth,  Ohio, 
and  in  that  city,  Dayton,  Sandusky  and  New 


York  he  was  employed  in  the  erection  of 
gas  works.  In  company  with  a  Mr.  Bar- 
ringer  he  received  the  contract  to  erect  the 
Mount  Vernon  gas  works,  and  in  1856  he 
removed  to  this  city,  where  he  remained  for 
several  years,  and  on  East  Front  street  he 
erected  the  fine  homestead  which  his  grand- 
son now  occupies.  In  1867  he  returned  to 
his  native  land  on  a  visit,  and  in  Manchester, 
that  country,  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in 
death  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  His 
wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Olive  Neild, 
and  her  death  occurred  in  Mount  Vernon 
in  1862.  Their  son,  Hugh  Neild  Taylor, 
was  born  in  Manchester,  England,  in  1833, 
and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this 
country.  For  twenty  years  he  served  as 
superintendent  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Gas 
Light  &  Coke  Company,  holding  that  posi- 
tion until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  2d  of  March,  1880,  at  the 
ag€  of  forty-nine  years.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Emma  Price,  a  native  of  Bing- 
ham, England.  She  accompanied  her  par- 
ents on  their  removal  to  this  country,  locat- 
ing in  Brooklyn,  New  York.  They  became 
the  parents  of  two  sons,  and  the  younger, 
Harry  P.,  is  now  a  resident  of  Akron,  Ohio. 
George  H.  Taylor,  the  elder  son  and  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  review,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  the  edu- 
cational advantages  which  he  enjoyed  in  his 
youth  were  those  afforded  by  the  public 
schools  of  the  city.  In  1880,  when  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  succeeded  his  father  as  su- 
perintendent oif  the  Mount  Vernon  Gas 
Light  &  Coke  Company,  and  for  the  past 
twenty-three  years  he  has  filled  this  import- 
ant position  with  credit  to  himself  and  to 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  His 
entire  life  having  been  passed  in  Knox  coun- 
ty, he  is  widely  known  in  the  community, 
and  the  fact  that  many  of  his  friends  are 
numbered  among  those  who  have  been  ac- 
quainted with  him'  from  boyhood  is  an  in- 
dication that  his  career  has  ever  been  an 
honorable  and  upright  one. 


JAMES  PERRY  COLLINS. 

James  Perry  Collins,  farmer  and  stone 
mason  of  Miller  township,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  is  one  of  the  most  widely  known  brick 
and  stone  contractors  in  Knox  and  adjoin- 
ing counties.  He  is  a  son  of  Washington 
and  Susan  (Hunter)  Collins,  and  was  born 
at  Brinkhaven,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary- 2,  1853. 

Washington  Collins,  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Guernsey 
county,  Ohio,  1826.'  He  served  four 
years  in  the  Civil  war  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany G,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first 
Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  is 
now  residing  with  his  son,  James  P.  By 
his  marriage  with  Susan  Hunter  he  became 
the  father  of  five  children,  named  as  fol- 
lows in  the  order  of  their  birth:  James 
Perry;  Jackson,  of  Newcastle,  Ohio;  and 
George,  Edward  and  Adaline,  who  are  dead. 
Mrs.  Collins  died  at  about  the  age  of  seventy 
years. 

James  Perry  Collins  is  a  member  of  Mt. 
Zion  Lodge,  No.  9,  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, of  Mount  Vernon,  and  is  also  a  Chap- 
ter Mason  there,  and  is  a  member  of  Syca- 
more Valley  Lodge,  No.  553,  Independent 


Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  married  Miss 
Angeline  Dripps  June  14,  1876,  and  she  has 
borne  him  two  children,  Minnie,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Wright,  of  Miller  township,  and 
Gertrude,  at  home.  Mrs.  Collins  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Harrison  and  Rachel  (McFarland) 
Dripps,  and  was  born  in  Mil  ford  township, 
Knox  county. 

Mr.  Collins  is  a  citizen  of  public  spirit, 
who  has  the  best  interests  of  his  township 
and  coimty  at  heart,  and  hi9  fellow  citizens 
have  learned  that  they  may  safely  depend 
upon  him  to  encourage  earnestly  and  sub- 
stantially any  movement  for  the  general 
good.  His  patriotic  inclinations  cause  him 
to  feel  a  deep  interest  in  all  national  af- 
fairs, and  he  is  an  intelligent  observer  of  all 
passing  events. 


FRANK   LOUIS    FAIRCHILD. 

Mr.  Fairchild  makes  his  home  in  Mount 
Vernon,  but  his  influence  is  felt  far  beyond 
the  limits  of  his  home  community,  owing  to 
his  broad  business  relations  and  many  per- 
sonal  friendships  throughout   the  country. 

The  Fairchild  family  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  England  about  1639,  when  Thom- 
as Fairchild  took  up  a  township  of  land  in 
Stafford,  Connecticut,  and  since  its  founda- 
tion on  American  soil  its  members  have  ever 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
state  and  nation.  Mr.  Fairchild's  father, 
Charles  G.  Fairchild,  came  with  his  father, 
Grandison  Fairchild,  from  Stockbridge, 
Massachusetts,  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
where  they  were  among  the  very  early  set- 
tlers.     The    cause    oi    education    has    also 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


found  in  the  members  of  this  representative 
family  warm  and  active  friends,  and  three 
uncles  of  our  subject  became  presidents  of 
colleges, — James  H.,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio;  E. 
H.,  of  Berea,  Kentucky;  and  George  T.,  of 
the  State  Agricultural  College  of  Manhattan, 
Kansas.  Charles  G.  Fairchild  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Emily  Culver,  of  Lee,  Berk- 
shire county,  Massachusetts.'  They  were 
people  of  sterling  worth,  and  in  the  com- 
munity where  they  made  their  home  they 
were  loved  and  honored  for  their  many  no- 
ble characteristics. 

Frank  L.  Fairchild  was  born  at  Brown- 
helm,  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  His  elementary 
education  was  received  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  locality,  but  later  he  entered 
Oberlin  College,  where  he  enjoyed  superior 
advantages.  He  was  reared  to  the  quiet 
pursuits  of  the  farm,  and  after  having  had 
some  experience  in  the  dry  goods  business, 
in  1865  he  came  tO'  Mount  Vernon,  Knox 
county,  where  he  at  once  became  identified 
with  The  C.  &  G.  Cooper  Company,  becom- 
ing an  active  partner  in  the  concern  about 
three  years  later.  After  a  residence  of  some 
years  in  this  city  he  went  to  Chicago,  where 
from  February,  1869,  until  May,  1878,  he 
had  charge  of  the  company's  interests  in  that 
city.  Since  its  organization  the  business  has 
steadily  grown  in  volume  and  importance, 
and  it  now  extends  to  all  parts  of  the  com- 
mercial world.  The  plant  was  founded  by 
Charles  Cooper  in  1833  and  was  conducted 
as  a  co-partnership  company  until  1895, 
when  it  was  incorporated  and  Mr.  Fairchild 
was  then  elected  its  president.  The  present 
officers  of  The  C.  &  G.  Cooper  Company  are : 
Frank  L.  Fairchild,  president ;  C.  G.  Cooper, 
secretary;  D.  B.  Kirk,  treasurer;  who  with 
Charles  M.  Stamp  and  Edward  Henry  Fair- 


child,  all  of  Mount  Vernon,  constitute  the 
board  of  directors.  When  this  establish- 
ment was  first  organized  it  manufactured  in 
a  small  way  agricultural  implements,  but  be- 
fore many  years  it  became  extensively  en- 
gaged in  building  engines  and  boilers.  Now, 
liowever,  the  Company  builds  Corliss  en- 
gines exclusively  and  in  this  field  it  has- 
gained  a  wide  reputation.  The  works  cover 
an  extensive  area  of  ground,  and  employ- 
ment is  given  to-  about  five  hundred  work- 
m.en. 

Although  the  business  of  this  establish- 
ment claims  much  of  his  time,  Mr.  Fairchild 
has  been  actively  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
the  city  in  which  he  lives.  For  nineteen 
years  he  served  as  trustee  of  the  Water 
Works  of  Mount  Vernon,  assuming  the  du- 
ties of  that  position  in  1881.  He  served  on 
the  preliminary  committee  that  determined 
the  plan  and  selected  the  site  of  the  Water 
Works,  and  had  charge,  with  the  other  trus- 
tees, during  the  period  of  construction.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Public  Li- 
brary and  has  ever  since  served  as  its  trus- 
tee, while  during  much  of  the  time  he  has-- 
also  acted  as  its  president.  He  was  one  of 
the  incorporators  and  directors  of  the  Home- 
Building  &  Loan  Association,  which  was; 
organized  twenty  3'ears  agO'  and  has  ever 
since  enjoyed  a  high  degree  of  success.  The 
cause  of  education  has  also  found  in  him  a 
warm  friend,  and  for  eighteen  years  he  was 
;>  member  of  the  board  of  education,  enter- 
ing upon  the  duties  of  that  office  in  1882-,. 
and  served  as  president  for  seventeen  years* 
Since  1865  Mr.  Fairchild  has  been  an  active 
member  of  the  Congregational  church,  and 
for  many  years  has  held  office  therein,  hav- 
ing served  as  deacon,  trustee  and  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school.      Religious; 


90 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


social  and  political  matters  have  ever  found 
in  him  a  willing-  worker  and  he  has  always 
done  what  he  could  for  the  welfare  of  his 
fellow  men. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1871,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  Mr.  Fairchild  and 
Aliss  Sarah  E.  Thatcher.  Mrs.  Fairchild  is 
a  native  of  Litchfield,  Medina  county,  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  Buckley  Thatcher,  for- 
merly of  Lee,  Massachusetts.  The  Thatcher 
family  became  residents  of  that  locality  as 
early  as  1635,  when  Thomas,  a  son  of  Rev. 
Peter  Thatcher,  came  to  this  country  froin 
England.  He  was  born  in  England  in  1620. 
The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fairchild  con- 
sists of  a  daughter,  Amy  Frances,  now  the 
wife  of  B.  B.  Williams,  of  Mount  Vernon, 
and  an  adopted  son,  Edward  Henry  Fair- 
child,  associated  with  his  father  in  The  C.  & 
'G.  Cooper  Company.  Both  were  educated 
in  the  schools  of  Oberlin. 

Such  is  the  record  of  one  of  the  most 
successful  men  of  Mount  Vernon.  His  life 
has  indeed  been  crowned  with  prosperity, 
but  all  his  achievements  are  the  result  of  pa- 
tient effort,  unflagging  industry  and  self- 
reliance.  For  many  years  this  city  has  been 
his  home,  and  during  all  this  time  he  has  so 
deported  himself  that  as  a  citizen,  as  a  man 
of  business  and  as  an  honorable  Christian 
gentleman  no  man  has  a  cleaner  record  or  is 
n^ore  highly  respected  than  he. 


WILLIAM  H.  YEARLEY. 

The  educator  is  as  useful  a  man  as  there 
is  or  can  be  in  any  community  and  his  work 
is  more  comprehensive  and  far  reaching 
than  any  other  man's,  for  it  is  as  broad  as 


humanity  and  its  influence  is  endless.  There 
are  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  few  educators 
better  known  or  more  highly  esteemed  than 
the  subject  of  this  brief  notice,  a  native  of 
Zanesville,  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  born 
November  6,  1862,  a  son  of  Henry  A.  and 
Adeline  (Evans)  Yearley. 

Professor  Yearley's  father,  Henry  A. 
Yearley,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
and  learned  and  worked  at  the  cooper's 
trade.  He  was  married  at  Newark,  Ohio, 
to  Adeline  Evans,  of  Welsh  parentage,  who 
was  born  and  reared  at  Newark.  After 
their  marriage  they  located  at  Zanesville, 
and  they  now  live  on  the  National  road, 
west  of  that  cit3\  They  became  the  parents 
of  three  daughters  and  two  sons,  all  of 
whom  survive.  William  H.  Yearley.  the 
eldest  of  these  children,  attended  public 
school  at  Zanesville,  and  after  preparing  for 
college  at  Madison  Academy  entered  Woos- 
ter  University,  in  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  after  a  due  course  of  study  in 
1886.  He  located  at  Danville,  Knox  county, 
that  year,  and  for  five  years  thereafter  filled 
one  of  the  chairs  in  the  central  Ohio  state 
normal  school.  Later  he  was  for  four  years 
principal  of  the  Savannah  Academy  at  Ash- 
land, Ohio,  and  taught  one  year  in  Ashland 
College.  For  the  past  six  years  he  has  ably 
filled  the  office  of  superintendent  of  the  Dan- 
ville and  Buckeye  City  union  school. 

Professor  Yearley  was  married,  in  July, 
1886,  to  Miss  Jennie  Cain,  a  native  of  Kirk- 
ersville.  Licking  county,  Ohio,  who  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Ohio  state  normal  school  at 
Ada  and  at  Wooster  University,  and  who 
was  for  some  years  a  successful  teacher. 
Professor  and  Mrs.  Yearley  have  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  as  follows:     Arthur, 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


George  W.,  Bernard  C,  Mary,  Adelia  and 
Grace. 

Politically  Professor  Yearley  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  that  he  is  a  man  of  influence 
in  local  affairs  is  attested  by  the  fact  that 
he  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  as  council- 
man and  township  clerk  and  in  other  re- 
sponsible official  positions.  In  religious 
views  he  is  a  Presbyterian,  but  at  this  time 
he  affiliates  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


SIMON  A.  COLWILL. 

Simon  Augustus  Colwill  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Knox  county  and  is  among 
the  honored  citizens  who  have  aided  in  erect- 
ing the  superstructure  of  the  county's  pres- 
ent prosperity  and  progress.  He  was  born 
on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  on  the 
20th  of  October,  1855,  a  son  of  Simon  and 
Ann  (Hurd)  Colwill.  The  father  was  born 
in  the  county  of  Cornwall,  England,  in  1810. 
In  1835,  soon  after  his  marriage,  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Gambier, 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  of  a  wheelwright  and  carpenter.  After 
some  years  spent  in  that  city,  however,  he 
removed  to  Massillon,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  for  a  time  and  then  returned  to 
Gambier.  Some  time  in  the  early  '40s  he 
purchased  the  place  on  which  our  subject 
now  resides,  consisting  of  a  tract  of  ninety 
acres,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  un- 
til his  life's  labors  were  ended,  passing  away 
on  the  7th  of  September,  1884.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  his  political  views,  and  relig- 
iously was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church.     His  wife  was  also  born  in  County 


Cornwall,  England,  in  18 12,  and  she  now 
makes  her  home  with  her  son,  Simon  A., 
having  reached  her  ninetieth  year.  Unto 
this  worthy  couple  were  born  ten  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely : 
John  T.,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Monroe 
township;  Charles,  of  Knox  county;  Simon 
A.,  the  subject  of  this  review;  Mary,  the 
wife  of  Augustus  Barker,  of  Boone  county, 
Iowa;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Robert  Hall,  a 
farmer  of  Pleasant  township,  Knox  county ; 
Emma,  the  wife  of  Ross  Pumphrey,  of  Clay 
township,  Knox  county;  and  Fannie,  the 
wife  of  Dr.  A.  D.  Welker,  of  Gambier. 

Simon  Augustus  Colwill  acquired  his 
early  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Knox  county,  with  a  preparatory  course  at 
Harcourt  grammar  school,  and  his  studies 
were  completed  in  Kenyon  College,  of  Gam- 
bier, Ohio.  In  1876  he  entered  the  school- 
room as  an  instructor,  following  that  pro- 
fession for  six  years  during  the  winter 
months,  while  in  the  summer  seasons  he 
was  employed  in  the  work  of  the  fields.  In 
1880  he  assumed  charge  of  the  old  home 
place,  which  he  farmed  on  shares  until  his 
father's  death,  and  he  then  conducted  the 
same  for  his  mother.  In  1889  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  thirty-seven  and  a  half  acres  ad- 
joining the  homestead  on  the  east,  and  he 
has  since  carried  on  the  work  of  both  places. 
His  efforts  along  the  line  of  his  chosen  vo- 
cation have  been  attended  with  a  high  de- 
gree of  success,  and  he  is  now  classed 
among  the  leading  and  representative  agri- 
culturists of  the  township. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Colwill  was  cele- 
brated on  the  2d  of  October,  1882,  when 
Miss  Emma  McKee  became  his  wife.  She 
is  a  native  daughter  of  Knox  county,  and 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


her  father,  Charles  McKee,  is  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Harrison  township.  The  union 
of  our  subject  and  wife  has  ben  blessed 
with  five  children, — Pearl  B.,  who  is  attend- 
ing the  high  school  at  Gambler;  Everett, 
who  is  also  a  student  in  that  city;  Ernest,  at 
home;  Harold,  deceased;  and  Burton,  at 
home.  The  Republican  party  receives  Mr. 
Colwiirs  active  support  and  co-operation, 
and  for  about  eight  years  he  has  served  as 
a  member  of  the  school  board,  the  cause  of 
education  ever  finding  in  him  a  firm  friend. 
His  religious  preference  is  indicated  by  his 
membership  in  the  Episcopal  church,  while 
his  wife  is  identified  with  the  Christian 
church. 


STEPHEN  CRAIG. 

Numbered  among  the  veterans  of  the 
Civil  war  is  Stephen  Craig,  one  of  the  na- 
tive sons  of  Knox  county  and  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  its  old  and  honored  pioneer 
families.  His  birth  occurred  September  27, 
1 83 1,  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides, 
his  parents  being  Jonathan  and  Polly 
(Kiser)  Craig,  whose  family  numbered 
eight  children,  although  only  two  are  now 
living,  the  brother  of  our  subject  being 
James  S.  Craig,  who  also  lives  in  Monroe 
township.  The  fatlier  was  bom  in  New 
Hampshire  about  1780,  and  there  spent  his 
youth,  learning  the  shoemaker's  trade  during 
that  period.  About  1805  he  emigrated  west- 
ward, and  when  he  had  reached  Knox  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  took  up  his  abode  in  the  Stilly  set- 
tlement, one  mile  west  of  Mount  Venion,  in 
Clinton  township.  There  he  purchased  fifty 
acres  of  land,  and  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing worked  at  his  trade,  doing  considerable 


in  that  line  for  the  pioneer  settlers  who  were 
far  removed  from  the  manufactories  of  the 
east.  In  1816  he  sold  his  first  property  and 
purchased  a  quarter-section  of  land  where 
his  son  Stephen  is  now  living.  Taking  up 
his  residence  there,  he  continued  to  superin- 
tend the  cultivation  of  his  land  until  death 
ended  his  labors  in  1850,  when  he  was  sev- 
enty years  of  age.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the 
war  of  1 812,  and  was  the  first  coroner  ever 
elected  in  Knox  county,  being  chosen  for 
that  office  when  there  were  only  forty  votes 
polled  in  the  entire  county.  In  politics  he 
was  a  stanch  Whig,  and  of  the  Christian 
church  he  was  an  active  and  zealous  mem- 
ber, his  life  being  in  harmony  with  its  teach- 
ings. His  wife  was  born  in  Rockingham 
county,  Virginia,  in  1793.  Her  father  was 
a  native  of  Germany  and  was  the  son  of  a 
wealthy  miller  there.  When  he  was  refused 
permission  to  come  to  this  country  he  ran 
away  from  home  and  crossed  the  broad  At- 
lantic, taking  up  his  abode  in  Virginia, 
where  he  followed  the  trade  of  milling. 
When  the  colonists  aroused  by  the  oppres- 
sive taxation  of  England  resolved  to  sever 
all  connection  with  the  British  crown,  he 
joined  the  American  anny  and  fought  for 
the  independence  of  the  colonies.  His  death 
occurred  in  Virginia  in  1810,  after  which 
his  widow,  with  her  son  John  and  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Craig,  came  to  Knox  county, 
settling  in  Mount  Vernon.  From  that  time 
forward  Mrs.  Craig  was  a  resident  of  this 
locality,  and  here  her  death  occurred  in  Jan- 
uary, 1886,  when  she  was  more  than  ninety- 
two  years  of  age. 

It  is  only  through  imagination  that  we  ! 
can  realize  the  conditions  which  existed  in  i 
Knox  county  at  the  time  of  the  boyhood  of        ' 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


93 


of  our  subject,  for  great  changes  have  oc- 
curred since  then  transforming  this  region 
into  l^eautiful  homes  and  farms,  thriving 
villages  and  enterprising  cities.  It  was  in  a 
log  schoolhouse  that  he  pursued  his  educa- 
tion, while  his  training  at  farm-  labor  was 
received  in  the  fields  on  the  home  farm, 
where  he  began  work  almost  as  soon  as  he 
was  old  enough  to  reach  the  plow  handles. 
He  was  only  nineteen  j^ears  of  age  at  his 
father's  death,  after  which  he  and  his  broth- 
ers conducted  the  place,  but  when  the  Civil 
war  was  inaugurated  his  patriotic  spirit  was 
aroused,  and  putting  aside  all  personal  con- 
siderations he  entered  his  country's  service, 
enlisting  on  the  loth  of  October,  1861,  as 
a  member  of  Company  A,  Sixty-fifth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  which  became  a  part  of 
Sherman's  Brigade  and  was  assigned  tO'  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  When  the  com- 
pany was  organized  Mr.  Craig  was  ap- 
pointed sergeant.  In  July,  1862,  he  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  illness,  but  in  1864 
he  re-enlisted  in  response  to  the  call  for  men 
to  serve  one  hundred  days,  and  became  a 
member  of  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
was  discharged  in  September  of  that  year, 
by  reason  of  the  expiration  of  his  term. 

Returning  to  his  home,  Mr.  Craig  re- 
sumed work  upon  the  farm,  and  as  his  finan- 
cial resources  permitted  he  purchased  the  in- 
terests of  the  other  heirs  in  the  home  place 
until,  in  1875,  he  became  sole  owner.  He 
has  since  continued  its  cultivation  and  the 
neat  and  thrifty  appearance  of  the  place  in- 
dicates his  careful  supervision.  In  his  work 
he  is  uniformly  successful,  and  the  many 
improvements  upon  his  farm  add  to  its  value 
and  attractive  appearance. 


On  the  1 2th  of  December,  1880,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Craig  and 
Mrs.  Caroline  Ouinn,  nee  Young,  the  widow 
of  Thompson  Ouinn.  She  was  born  in 
Geauga  county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Reese 
C.  Young,  who  came  to  Knox  county  in 
1839.  Mr.  Craig  is  an  earnest  advocate  of 
Republican  principles,  and  on  that  ticket  in 
1880  was  elected  county  commissioner  of 
Knox  county.  In  1883  he  was  an  unsuc- 
cessful candidate.  In  1886,  however,  he 
was  a  second  time  elected,  so  that  his  in- 
cumbency in  that  office  covered  six  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  Monroe  Grange,  Patrons 
of  Husbandry  and  of  Joe  Hooker  Post,  No. 
21,  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  as  true  and  loyal  to 
his  country  in  times  of  peace  as  when,  robed 
in  the  blue  uniform  of  the  army,  he  followed 
his  countr_y's  flag  on  southern  battlefields. 


THOMAS   S.    PHILLIPS. 

One  of  the  widely  known  and  esteemed 
residents  of  Wayne  township,  Knox  county, 
is  Thomas  S.  Phillips.  He  was  born  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  on  the  27th 
of  January,  1835,  a  son  of  Richard  and 
Sarah  (Denna)  Phillips.  The  father  was 
born  in  Sussex,  England,  about  1800,  and 
was  there  reared  and  educated.  During  his 
boyhood  days  he  studied  navigation,  and  for 
some  time  thereafter  followed  a  sailor's  life. 
He  was  married  in  his  native  land,  and  in 
1 82 1  came  with  his  bride  to  the  United 
States,  locating  in  Clinton,  Knox  county, 
where  he  worked  at  farm  labor  for  a  time 
and  later  opened  and  operated  a  distillery. 
In   later  years  he  purchased   the   farm  on 


94 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


which  oiir  subject  now  resides,  and  there  he 
remained  until  within  eight  years  of  his 
death,  when  he  removed  to  Mount  Vernon. 
He  was  a  stanch  Republican  in  his  polit- 
ical views,  and  was  an  active  and  worthy 
member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  having 
been  one  of  the  founders  and  active  spirits 
in  the  erection  of  the  house  of  worship  at 
Mount  Vernon,  while  for  a  number  of  years 
he  held  office  therein.  His  wife  departed 
this  life  in  1866.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phil- 
lips were  born  ten  children,  four  of  whom 
still  survive,  namely :  Benjamin  W.,  a 
farmer  of  Wa}-ne  township,  this  county; 
Thomas  S.,  of  this  review;  William  A.,  of 
Paulding  county,  Ohio ;  and  Richard  W.,  of 
Wayne  township,  Knox  county. 

Thomas  S.  Phillips  has  spent  nearly  his 
entire  life  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now 
resides,  and  during  his  youth  he  enjoyed 
the  educational  advantages  afforded  by  the 
common  schools  of  his  locality.  In  1856 
he  went  by  the  water  route  to  California, 
where  he  followed  mining  for  a  short  time, 
and  was  then  engaged  in  the  commission 
business  and  in  freighting  into  the  mining 
districts.  In  1863,  after  seven  years  spent 
in  the  Golden  state,  he  returned  to  his  old 
Ohio  home  on  a  visit,  but  he  was  persuaded 
by  his  friends  and  relatives  to  remain  in 
Knox  county,  and  accordingly  he  pur- 
chased the  old  home  farm  on  which  he  was 
born  and  reared  and  which  was  endeared 
to  him*  through  recollections  of  his  boy- 
hood days.  Here  he  is  engaged  in  general 
farming,  and  for  the  past  few  years  has  also 
operated  a  thresher,  meeting  with  a  high 
degree  of  success  in  both  branches  of  his 
business.  In  1890  Mr.  Phillips  returned  on 
a  visit  to  California. 

His  marriage  was  celebrated    in   1864, 


when  Miss  Elizabeth  Bonner  became  his 
wife.  They  became  the  parents  oi  four  chil- 
dren, only  one  of  whom  is  living,  Charles 
M.  Mrs.  Phillips  has  also  answered  the 
summons  to  the  home  beyond,  passing  away 
in  1876.  For  his  present  wife  our  subject 
chose  Miss  Emma  Ewalt.  The  Republican 
party  receives  Mr.  Phillips'  hearty  support 
and  coK>peration,  and  for  three  years  he 
served  as  trustee  of  his  township,  refusing 
longer  to  continue  in  office,  although  he  has 
often  been  solicited  to  accept  the  nomina- 
tion for  county  commissioner.  Religiously 
he  is  a  worthy  and  acceptable  member  of  the 
Episcopal  church. 


MARTIN  J.  HORN. 


Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  fur- 
nished many  pioneers  to  Ohioi,  and  they 
were  men  of  the  highest  character  and  abil- 
ity and  their  descendants  are  leaders  in  vari- 
ous communities  at  the  present  time.  The 
old  Pennsylvania  family  of  Horn  is  repre- 
sented in  Harrison  township,  Knox  county, 
and  perhaps  no  one  who  bears  the  name  is 
better  known  than  Martin  J.  Horn,  long  a 
successful  farmer  and  who  is  now  living  in 
well  earned  retirement. 

Martin  J.  Horn  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  July  22,  1822,  a  son 
of  John  Horn,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
county,  within  six  miles  of  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice, in  1799.  John  Horn  was  reared  to  be 
a  fanner  and  miller,  and  on  his  farm  of 
three  hundred  and  forty-five  acres  he  owned 
a  mill.  He  was  in  all  sense  a  man  of  suc- 
cess and  prominence.  He  was  a  Whig  and 
Republican  and  an  active  and  liberally  help- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


9S 


ful  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  Martin 
Horn,  father  of  John  Horn  and  grandfa- 
ther of  Martin  J.  Horn,  was  born  on  the 
same  farm  in  Washington  county  which  was 
the  birthplace  of  John  Horn,  and  he  Hved 
to  be  eighty-four  years  old.  Hartman 
Horn,  father  of  Martin  Horn  and  great- 
grandfather of  Martin  J.  Horn,  was  born 
in  Germany,  and  was  an  early  settler  in 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
purchased  public  land  and  was  in  his  time 
a  well  known  farmer. 

John  Horn  married  Mary  Gantz,  who 
was  born  at  Ten  Mile  Creek,  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1799,  and 
she  died  in  1866.  John  Gantz,  her  father, 
who  was  a  farmer,  miller  and  distiller,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  as  was  also  his  wife. 
He  achieved  success  in  his  'time  and  lo- 
cality as  a  man  of  affairs.  John  and  Mary 
(Gantz)  Horn  had  children  as  follows: 
Martin  J.,  the  first  born,  is  the  immediate 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Mary  Ann  is  dead. 
George  lives  on  the  old  family  homestead 
in  ^^'ashington  county,  Pennsylvania.  Mar- 
garet is  dead.  Jacob  died  in  the  service  of 
his  country  in  the  Civil  war.  Elizabeth, 
who  is  the  widow  of  James  Price,  lives  in 
California.  Hugh  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Henry  county,  Iowa.  Hannah  lives  in  Iowa. 
John  is  dead.  William  owns  and  lives  on 
a  part  of  the  old  Horn  property  in  Penn- 
sylvania. Maria  is  the  wife  of  George 
Coogle,  of  Washington  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Isaac  is  a  prominent  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  of  Moultrie  county,  Illinois. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
at  the  old  family  home  of  Horn  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  as  a  farmer 
and  miller,  but  eventually  engaged  in  team- 
ing   between    Wheeling,    West    Virginia; 


Cumberland,  Maryland ;  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania; and  other  points  with  six-horse 
teams,  of  which  from  time  to  time  he  owned 
several.  He  came  to  Knox  county  in  1847 
and  began  farming  in  Harrison  township. 
In  May,  1848,  in  Butler  township,  he  was- 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Eley,  who  was  also 
born  there,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Cath- 
arine Eley.  They  were  early  settlers  in  that 
part  of  the  county.  Immediately  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Horn  brought  his  wife  to  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  and  where  he 
had  "bached"'  it  for  a  time.  He  has  been 
successful  in  his  business  affairs,  and  at 
one  time  owned  four  hundred  acres  of  excel- 
lent land.  He  is  regarded  not  only  as  a 
progressive  farmer  but  as  an  influential  citi- 
zen. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in 
religion  he  affiliates  with  the  Christian 
church.  His  wife,  who  died  July  16,  1891, 
bore  him  four  children, — Mary  R.,  who  is 
now  Mrs.  Jacob  Black,  and  lives  with  her 
father;  and  Hugh,  John  and  Eley,  all  of 
whom  live  in  Harrison  township,  near  their 
father.  Mr.  Horn  has  given  or  sold  to  each 
of  his  children  on  favorable  terms  a  good 
farm,  and  they  have  all  entered  upon  active 
life  with  excellent  prospects. 


BENJAMIN  AMES. 

That  the  plentitude  of  satiety  is  seldom 
attained  in  the  affairs  of  life  is  to  be  con- 
sidered a  most  grateful  and  beneficial  de- 
privation, for  where  ambition  is  satisfied  and 
every  ultimate  aim  realized — if  such  is  pos- 
sible— there  must  follow  individual  apathy. 
Effort  will  cease,  accomplishment  be  pros- 
trate and  creative  talent  waste  its  energies 
in  supine  inactivity.     The  men  who    have 


96 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


pushed  forward  the  wheels  of  progress  have 
been  those  to  whom  satiety  lay  ever  in  the 
future,  and  they  have  labored  consecutively 
and  have  not  failed  to  find  in  each  transition 
stage  incentive  for  further  effort.  Although 
in  his  youth  Mr.  Ames  did  not  meet  that 
laborious  struggle  which  falls  to  the  lot  of 
many  men  who  later  win  success,  his  energy 
and  resolution  has  not  been  less  marked  than 
theirs,  and  in  the  successful  control  of  vari- 
ous business  interests  of  magnitude  he  has 
displayed  marked   business   ability. 

Mr.  Ames  was  born  in  the  family  home 
■on  High  street,  Mount  Vernon,  in  1870,  a 
son  of  the  Rev.  John  G.  and  Elizabeth  (De- 
lano) Ames.  The  former,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, devoted  many  years  of  his  life  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry  as  a  representative  of 
the  Episcopal  clergy,  but  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  Washington,  D.  C.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Columbus  Delano, 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  and 
citizens  that  Ohio  has  produced.  Their  son, 
Benjamin  Ames,  pursued  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  and  in  the  Columbian 
Preparatory  School  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  afterward  matriculated  in  Princeton 
University,  in  which  institution  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1892.  He  then  took  charge  of  the 
estate  and  affairs  of  his  maternal  grandfa- 
ther, capably  controlling  the  extensive  busi- 
ness associated  therewith.  He  is  now  the 
president  of  the  Republican  Publishing  Com- 
pany and  the  Mount  Vernon  Milling  Com- 
pany, and  is  a  director  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Mount  Vernon.  He  is  also 
carrying  on  extensive  farming  interests  in 
this  county,  and  he  resides  at  his  beautiful 
country  seat,  Lakehome,  in  Clinton  town- 
ship. 

In  1896  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 


Mr.  Ames  and  Miss  Isabel  Kirk,  a  daugh- 
ter of  D.  B.  Kirk,  of  Mount  Vernon,  who 
is  treasurer  of  the  C.  O.  Cooper  Company. 
They  now  have  two  children.  Kirk  Delano 
and  Elizabeth  Delano.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Ames  is  a  Mason,  and  has  taken  all  of  the 
degrees  of  the  York  rite,  while  of  the  Mys- 
tic Shrine  he  is  likewise  a  representative. 
He  holds  membership  with  the  Knights  of 
P}'thias  and  in  politics  he  is  quite  promi- 
nent, being  a  stanch  advocate  of  Republican 
principles  and  a  member  and  treasurer  of 
the  county  committee.  He  does  all  in  his 
power  to  promote  the  growth  and  insure 
the  success  of  his  party  and  actively  co-op- 
erates in  many  movements  and  measures 
calculated  to  advance  the  material  and  in- 
tellectual interests  of  his  native  county.  In 
his  business  afifairs  he  displays  marked  abil- 
ity in  not  only  planning  but  in  successfully 
directing  important  enterprises,  and  his  un- 
assailable reputation  in  commercial  and  in- 
dustrial circles  has  gained  for  him  a  fore- 
most position  among  the  leading  citizens  of 
Knox  county,  although  he  is  yet  a  young 
man. 


.  REV.  ISAAC  LEEDY. 

From  an  early  period  in  the  development 
and  improvement  of  Knox  county  Rev. 
Isaac  Leedy  has  resided  within  its  bor- 
ders and  has  had  marked  influence  upon 
its  material  and  moral  development.  He 
is  the  minister  of  the  Brethren  church  in 
Berlin  township  and  is  a  man  of  no 
restricted  influence,  his  labors  having 
had  marked  benefit  in  uplifting  moral 
standards.  He  was  born  in  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  December  23,   1827, 


Q^^Jui^cu2^       oZ!ke-c^ 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


and  traces  his  ancestry  back  tO'  the  land  of 
the  Alps,  for  his  great-great-grandfather, 
Abraham  Leedy,  came  from  Switzerland  to 
America,  taking  up  his  abode  in  the  Key- 
stone state.  The  grandfather,  who  bore  the 
same  name,  was  supposed  to  be  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  there  he  spent  his  entire 
life.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  the 
fourth  Abraham  Leedy  and  was  born  in 
Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  5, 
1787.  After  arriving  at  years  of  ma- 
turity he  married  Elizabeth  Zook,  who 
was  born  in  Bedford  county  March 
26,  1 79 1.  The  wedding  was  celebrated 
February  2^,  1812,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  nine  sons 
and  two  daughters,  namely :  John,  Cath- 
erine, Samuel,  Jacob,  Abraham,  David, 
Daniel  and  Joseph,  all  of  whom  have  passed 
away;  Isaac,  of  this  review;  Susanna,  t'.ie 
widow  of  S.  P.  Dyer;  and  Aaron,  who  lives 
in  Richland  county.  In  1829  the  parer:ts 
reuioved  with  their  family  to  Knox  county, 
locating  in  Berlin  township,  near  the  present 
site  of  Ankenytown,  which  was  built  upon 
the  land  that  Mr.  Leedy  owned.  He  died 
March  8,  i860,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of 
his  age.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Dunkard 
church  and  his  earnest  Christian  life  was  an 
example  well  worthy  of  emulation.  His 
wife  passed  away  June  24,  1865,  in  her  sev- 
enty-seventh year. 

Isaac  Leedy,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  only  about  two  years  old  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Knox  county  in 
the  year  1829.  His  environments  were 
those  of  the  frontier  and  with  the  family  he 
experienced  hardship  and  trials  incident  to 
pioneer  life,  also  enjoying  pleasures  which 
are  otherwise  unknown  save  in  frontier 
settlements.     He  began  his  education  in  a 


little  log  school  house  which  stood  on  the 
present  site  of  Ankenytown.  He  was  an 
earnest  and  thorough  student  and  has  al- 
V.  ays  been  a  deep  thinker  and  close  reasoner. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  put  aside  all  his 
text-books  in  order  to  give  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  work  of  the  home  farm. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  the 
journey  of  life  Mr.  Leedy  chose  Miss  Nancy 
Bostater,  the  wedding  being  celebrated  De- 
cember 25,  1851.  She  was  born  in  Mary- 
land September  30,  1828,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Susanna  Bostater,  who  came  to 
Knox  county  during  her  early  girlhood. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children  and 
when  the  mother  died,  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1866,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years,  she 
left  a  little  babe  only  four  days  old.  The 
other  children  of  the  family  are:  Elias, 
who  was  born  October  10,  1852,  and  died 
December  26,  of  the  same  year;  William, 
who  v.as  born  December  15,  1853,  and  is 
deceased ;  an  infant  daughter  deceased ;  Eliz- 
abeth, who  was  born  October  15,  1856,  and 
is  the  wife  of  C.  D.  Martin,  of  Berlin  town- 
ship; Martha,  who  was  born  October  28, 
1857,  and  died  January  6,  1858;  Caleb,  who 
was  born  November  21,  1858,  and  is  now 
a  farmer  of  Berlin  township;  Hannah,  who 
was  born  Januarj^  i,  1861,  and  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  O.  Miller,  of  Berlin;  Emily,  who 
was  born  June  17,  1863,  and  died  March  3, 
1865;  Joshua,  who  was  born  September  12, 
1864,  and  died  March  7,  1865  ;  and  Susanna, 
who  was  born  March  i,  1866,  a  babe  at  her 
mother's  death,  and  is  the  wife  of  B.  C. 
Debolt,  of  Berlin  towhship.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Leedy  was  again 
married,  on  the  23d  of  October,  1866,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Lovina 
Wolfe,    who    was     born     in    this    county 


98 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


March  i6,  1838,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Margaret  Wolfe.  Seven  children 
were  born  of  this  union:  Minerva,  who 
was  born  October  27,  1867,  and  is 
the  wife  of  J.  C.  Hess,  of  Ankenytown ; 
Noah,  who  was  born  October  2,  1870, 
and  died  May  16,  1873;  Mary  E.,  who  was 
born  December  5,  1872,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Fred  ^vlerrin,  justice  of  the  peace  in  Morris 
township ;  Normanda,  who  was  born  June 
II,  1875,  ^"d  "ii^d  November  20,  1879;  a 
son  who  was  born  April  15,  1878,  and  died 
unnamed ;  Samuel  Alva,  who  was  born  July 
14,  1879,  and  is  at  home;  and  Verda  A., 
who  was  born  April  8,  1882,  and  is  still 
under   the  parental   roof. 

After  his  first  marriage  Rev.  Leedy  lo- 
cated on  the  old  homestead  and  lived  in  the 
upper  story  of  the  old  milk  house,  which 
was  a  log  building.  In  1865  he  removed 
to  what  was  known  as  the  old  Trayer  farm, 
and  made  his  home  thereon  until  1885,  when 
he  moved  to  his  present  place  of  residence 
in  Berlin  township.  He  has  erected  all  of 
the  buildings  upon  this  place  and  he  also 
constructed  buildings  upon  the  Trayer  farm, 
including  the  house  and  barn.  In  his  farm 
work  he  is  systematic,  persevering  and  in- 
dustrious, and  thus  has  become  the  pos- 
sessor of  a  desirable  propertv,  but  in  the 
midst  of  his  business  cares  he  has  found 
time  to  devote  to  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
In  the  spring  of  1859  he  was  called  to  the 
ministry  of  the  Brethren  church,  and  at  once 
began  to  equip  himself  for  the  work,  up- 
held in  all  his  labors  by  his  strong  faith  and 
unwavering  purpose  to  exercise  his  talents 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Master's  cause.  Rev. 
Samuel  Leedy,  a  brother  O'f  our  subject,  was 
a  minister  of  the  Dunkard  church  at  An- 
kenytown, but  taught  views  more  nearly  in 


accord  with  the  New  Testament  in  observ- 
ance of  some  of  the  ordinances,  which  re- 
sulted in  his  own  disfellowship  being  ac- 
companied by  Isaac  and  several  others.  A 
new  society  was  organized  in  1859,  gener- 
ally known  as  "Leedyites,"  of  which  the 
two  brothers  were  the  principal  ministers. 
Others  who  held  similar  views  soon  joined 
them,  and  several  societies  were  organized  in 
western  Ohio  and  in  Indiana.  For  upwards 
of  twenty-four  years  Isaac  Leedy  continued 
as  pastor  of  the  local  society,  in  the  mean- 
time giving  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  the 
propagating  of  the  faith.  Much  dissatis- 
faction developed  among  those  who  had 
remained  in  fellowship  with  the  old  church 
and  steps  were  taken  to  again  unite  the  three 
branches  of  the  church.  At  a  conference 
held  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1883,  the  "Leedy- 
ites," the  Progressive  Brethren  and  the 
Congregational  Brethren  affected  a  consoli- 
dation. 

Not  long  after  this  event  Rev.  Samuel 
Leedy  removed  tO'  Vernon  county,  ^Missouri, 
where  he  organized  a  society  at  Montevallo, 
of  which  he  became  pastor,  so  remaining  un- 
til his  death,  on  November  17,  1889,  in  his 
seventy-fourth  year.  His  son,  Rev.  Simon 
Leedy,  succeeded  him,  and  so  remains. 
Since  retiring  from  active  pastoral  work 
Rev.  Isaac  Leedy  has  continued  occasional 
work  in  the  cause  of  the  Master,  his  chosen 
field  being  mainly  of  an  evangelical  nature, 
and  his  services  are  also  widely  sought  to 
officiate  at  marriage  and  funeral  services. 
Reared  under  the  strictest  rules  of  the  old 
Tunker  society,  he  accepted  all  the  teach- 
ings and  observances  as  authorized  by  the 
Gospels  until  he  united  with  the  church. 
He  soon  began  careful  investigation  and 
study  and  became  a  deep  and  careful  Bible 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


99 


student.  He  has  since  seldom  taken  things 
for  granted,  but  has  demanded  substantial 
proof  for  support  of  any  propositions.  He 
has  held  to  that  principle  in  his  own  preach- 
ing, presenting  onlj^  such  arguments  as  were 
substantiated  by  abundant  testimony.  With 
no  pretensions  at  elegance  or  finished  ora- 
tory, he  possesses  such  pleasing  address, 
combined  with  forceful  and  vigorous  lan- 
guage, that  few  men  have  exerted  more  in- 
fluence in  Christian  growth  and  development 
of  the  community,  and  his  work  has  resulted 
in  great  good.  He  resides  upon  his  farm  in 
Berlin  township,  comprising  seventy-seven 
acres.  At  one  time  he  had  a  quarter  section 
of  land,  but  he  has  rendered  substantial  as- 
sistance to  his  children.  He  has  served  as 
township  trustee  and  was  school  director  for 
a  number  of  years  but  refused  other  local  po- 
sitions. His  life  has  been  one  ever  actuated 
by  the  strictest  fidelity  to  duty  and  in  the 
work  of  the  church  his  labors  have  been  of 
wide  spread  benefit.  His  straightforward 
principles  and  genuine  worth  have  made  his 
example  well  worthy  of  emulation  and  thus 
to  know  Rev.  Leedy  is  to  honor  and  respect 
him. 


FRENCH   W.   SEVERNS. 

French  W.  Severns,  who  is  now^  serving 
as  county  treasurer  of  Knox  county,  is  a 
native  of  Cochocton  county,  Ohio,  born  in 
1863.  When  a  little  lad  of  eight  years  he 
came  to  this  county  with  his  parents,  Isaac 
D.  and  Elizabeth  (Mills)  Severns,  who'  are 
still  residing  upon  a  farm  in  Pleasant  townr. 
ship.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Samuel 
Severns,  son  of  Joseph  Severns,  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  county,  Virginia,  and  served 


in  the  war  of  181 2  with  the  rank  of  first 
sergeant.  He  was  at  Detroit  at  the  time  of 
Hull's  surrender  and  after  the  war  he  walked 
from  that  place  to  Coshocton  county,  Ohio. 
There  he  located  lands  in  Newcastle  town- 
ship, and  upon  the  farm  which  he  there  de- 
veloped and  improved  he  made  his  home 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1884,. 
when  in  his  eighty-fourth  year.  He  was  a 
very  active  and  influential  citizen  there  at 
an  early  day,  served  as  county  commissioner 
and  filled  other  offices  of  public  trust.  He 
was  married  in  Co-shocton  county  to  Miss 
Mary  Darling,  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  honored  pioneer  families  of  the  locality. 
Her  father  was  a  leading  stock-raiser  and 
his  nephews  now  have  the  largest  herds  of 
shorthorn  cattle  in  central  Ohio. 

Isaac  D.  Severns,  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Darling)  Severns,  came  to  Knox 
county  with  his  family  in  1871,  and  has 
since  been  identified  with  its  farming  inter- 
ests. He,  toO',  is  active  and  influential  in 
county  affairs,  and  has  always  given  a  stal- 
wart support  to  the  principles  of  the  De- 
mocracy. He  wedded  Elizabeth  Mills,  and 
their  son,  French  W.,  is  now  the  only  one 
of  their  children  living  in  this  county.  The 
others  are  Edgar  C,  a  dentist  practicing  in 
Chicago,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Thomas  Hagerman, 
of  Huron  county,  Ohio;  and  Mrs.  Charles 
Hagerty,  of  Dodge  City,  Kansas. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Knox  county 
our  subject  pursued  his  early  education,  and 
later  attended  the  Northwestern  University, 
at  Ada,  Ohio.  Later  he  engaged  in  busi- 
ness in  Michigan,  but  subsequently  he  re- 
turned to  Knox  county  and  took  charge  of 
his  father's  farm,  which  he  continued  to  op- 
erate until  1899,  making  a  specialty  of  the 
cultivation  of    fruit  and    of    stock-raising- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTOR\^ 


The  work  was  carried  on  along  progressive 
lines  and  his  labors  brought  a  good  finan- 
cial return. 

In  this  county  Mr.  Severns  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Olive  Hagaman,  of 
Mount  Vernon,  a  daughter  of  John  Haga- 
man, of  that  city.  They  have  two  children, 
Edna  Mildred  and  Robert  Baning.  Tlie 
parents  hold  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  are  people  of  the  high- 
est respectability,  enjoying  the  merited  es- 
teem of  many  friends.  Socially  Mr.  Severns 
is  connected  with  the  various  Masonic 
bodies  in  Mount  Vernon,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  I^odge  and  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  The  fraternal  spirit  of 
these  orders  he  exemplifies  in  his  daily  life, 
and  is  therefore  accounted  one  of  the  loyal 
representatives  of  the  different  societies  with 
■which  he  is  identified.  He  gives  the  greater 
part  of  his  attention  now  to  his  official  duties 
and  his  course  indicates  that  the  confidence 
reposed  in  him  by  his  constituents  is  well 
merited. 


JOHN  M.  FAWCETT. 

Ireland  has  furnished  to  America  an  ele- 
ment of  population  which  has  been  influen- 
tial in  the  advancement  of  civilization, 
patriotism  and  prosperity  and  for  which  our 
country  ought  to  be  and  is  duly  grateful. 
Ohio  was  the  objective  point  of  many  Irish 
immigrants  of  the  better  class,  and  Knox 
county  received  her  quota  of  such  pioneers. 
One  of  the  prominent  Irish  names  in  Harri- 
son township  is  Fawcett,  and  of  the  family 
to  which  it  belongs  John  M.  Fawcett  is  a 
most  worthy  representative. 

John  M.  Fawcett,  who  is  one  of  the  larg- 


est land  owners  in  Harrison  township  and 
whose  home  farm  is  in  section  12,  was  born 
in  that  township  May  i,  1831,  a  son  of 
Arthur  Fawcett,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who 
came  to  America  when  about  twenty  years 
old  and  locating  at  Steubenville,  Ohio.  He 
began  life  in  the  land  of  liberty  by  working 
willingly  at  whatever  his  hands  found  to  do. 
He  came  to  Knox  county  while  yet  a  young 
man,  found  a  wife  in  Pleasant  township  and 
began  housekeeping  in  the  woods  in  Harri- 
son towniship  in  a  house  of  round  logs,  but 
this  in  time  gave  place  to  a  house  of  hewed 
logs,  from  which  he  moved  to  a  frame  house 
on  the  farm  which  is  now  the  home  of  his 
son,  John  M.  Fawcett.  This  was  built  in 
1852,  and  there  he  died  in  his  eighty-second 
year.  He  was  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the 
term  a  self-made  man,  for  he  was  orphaned 
in  his  childhood,  and,  left  literally  to  shift 
for  himself,  made  a  success  in  life  in  every 
way.  When  he  grew  to  manhood  he  es- 
poused the  principles  of  the  old  Whig  party, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  original  members  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  wielded  a  marked 
influence  in  public  affairs,  was  well  known 
throughout  the  county  and  his  death  was 
widely  regretted. 

Arthur  Fawcett  married  Susannah 
Smith,  who  was  brought  by  her  parents 
when  a  cliild  to  Knox  county.  She  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  She  bore  her 
husband  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood, 
and  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
the  eighth  child  and  fourth  son  in  order  of 
birth.  John  M.  Fawcett  gained  his  educa- 
tion in  one  of  Harrison  township's  old  log 
school  houses  and  established  himself  as  a 
farmer,  being  thus  employed  until  1861, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Forty-third 


OF    KXOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  in 
which  he  served  as  a  private  for  ten  months. 
He  was  then  honorably  discharged  on  ac- 
count of  disability  and  returned  to  his  home. 
He  was  married,  January  14,  1858,  to  Miss 
Hannah  Workman,  who  was  born  in  Brown 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohioi  October  19, 
1839,  and  died  in  October,  1874,  leaving  the 
following  named  children :  Workman,  Ellen 
Jane,  Annie,  Frank,  Henry  and  Dora,  all 
of  whom  are  living.  Ellen  Jane  is  the  wife 
of  George  Lepley;  Annie  is  the  wife  of 
Marvin  Purdy;  Dora  married  Benjamin 
Bebout ;  Workman  married  Rena  O.  Daniel ; 
Frank  married  Bertha  McKee;  and  Henry 
married  Alice  Lamson.  April  11,  1875,  Mr. 
Fawcett  married  Miss  Nancy  J.  Workman, 
a  native  of  Brown  township  and  a  sister  of 
his  deceased  wife.  Her  parents  were  John 
J.  and  Lucretia  (De  Witt)  Workman,  early 
settlers  of  Knox  county,  Ohio.  By  his  sec- 
ond marriage  he  has  two  daughters, — Mat- 
tie,  who  married  Thomas  Bebout,  and  Ida 
May,  who  is  still  a  member  of  her  father's 
household. 

Mr.  Fawcett  has  lived  his  life  in  Harri- 
son township  with  the  exception  of  three 
years  which,  when  a  young  man,  were  spent 
in  McLain  county,  Illinois.  He  gradually 
acquired  land  until  at  one  time  he  owned 
four  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres.  He  has 
divided  two  hundred  and  forty-two  acres 
among  his  children,  and  devotes  his  home 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  acres 
to  general  farming.  He  is  a  Democrat  and 
is  proud  of  the  fact  that  he  voted  twice  for 
William  Jennings  Bryan  for  the  presidency. 
He  has  been  treasurer  and  trustee  of  his 
township  and  has  held  other  important  local 
offices.  He  is  a  member  of  Leroy  Baker 
Post,    Grand    Army    of    the    Republic,  of 


Alount  Vernon,  and  takes  pleasure  in  recall- 
ing army  experiences  by  frequent  com- 
munion with  old  comrades-in-arms.  In 
township  affairs  he  wields  considerable  in- 
fluence, and  his  public  spirit  has  been  many 
times  put  to  the  test,  but  has  never  been 
found  wanting. 


CHARLES  R.  BRADFIELD,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Charles  R.  Bradfield  is  a  prominent 
physician  of  Danville,  and  has  that  love  for 
and  devotion  to  his  profession  which  has 
brought  to  him  success  and  won  him  a  place 
among  the  ablest  representatives  of  the  med- 
ical fraternity  in  Knox  county,  his  practice 
being  large  and  remunerative.  The  Doctor 
was  born  in  Brown  township,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  31st  of  May,  1846.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  James  Bradfield,  was  a 
native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  there  spent 
his  entire  life.  He  was  a  member  of  a 
prominent  Quaker  family  and  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent.  His  son,  James  W.  Bradfield, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  also  claimed  Vir- 
ginia as  the  state  of  his  nativity,  where  he 
was  reared  to  the  quiet  duties  of  the  farm. 
Some  time  in  the  '30s  he  came  to  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  locating  in  Union  township, 
where  he  remained  for  a  short  time,  and 
then  took  up  his  abode  in  Howard  town- 
ship. His  next  place  of  residence  was  at 
Danville,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  quiet  retirement,  enjoying  the 
rest  which  he  had  so  truly  earned  and  richly 
deserved.  He  passed  away  in  death  at  the 
age  of  seventy-three  years,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his 
acquaintance.     Prior  to  the  Civil   war  he 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democracy, 
but  later  in  life  he  became  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  on  its  ticket  was 
elected  to  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 
For  nine  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  of  his  township,  and  for  eight  years 
w-as  the  efficient  commissioner  of  Knox 
county,  and  he  also  held  the  position  of 
notary  public.  During  the  last  ten  years  of 
his  life  he  was  engaged  in  settling  estates, 
and  it  is  often  said  that  he  did  more  busi- 
ness in  that  line  than  any  other  man  in  this 
part  of  the  county. 

As  a  companion  for  the  journey  of  life 
Mr.  Bradfield  chose  Miss  Sarah  Sapp,  a  na- 
tive of  Union  township,  Knox  couny,  where 
she  was  reared,  educated  and  married,  and 
there  her  death  occurred  when  she  had 
reached  the  seventy-fifth  milestone  on  the 
journey  of  life.  Her  father,  Levi  Sapp,  was 
a  native  of  the  state  of  Maryland.  In  1809 
he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
to  Knox  county,  where  they  were  among 
the  early  pioneers,  and  there  his  father, 
George  Sapp,  became  a  prominent  farmer 
of  Union  township.  He  was  of  Dutch  de- 
scent, and  was  a  Catholic  in  his  religious 
belief.  In  this  county  Levi  Sapp  was  reared 
and  educated,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
Mount  Vernon.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bradfield  was  blessed  with  eleven 
children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  ma- 
turity, and  all  were  born  in  Knox  county. 
Those  who  still  survive  are:  Charles  R., 
the  subject  of  this  review;  Lydia,  the  wife 
of  William  Body,  a  resident  of  Jefferson 
township;  L.  S.,  who  makes  his  home  in 
Liberty  township,  Knox  county;  William, 
also  of  Liberty  township;  Thomas  J.,  of 
Holmes  county;  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  Al- 
bert Moor,  of  Canton,  Ohio. 


Drw  Bradfield,  the  eldest  child  in  the 
above  family,  obtained  his  elementary  edu- 
catimi  in  the  common  schools  of  his  town- 
ship, and  later  enjoyed  superior  advantages 
along  that  line  in  the  academy  at  Danville. 
When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Calvin 
Sapp,  of  Danville,  who  continued  as  his  pre- 
ceptor for  the  following  four  years,  on  the 
expiration  of  which  period,  in  1870,  our 
subject  entered  the  old  Cleveland  Medical 
College.  He  subsequently  matriculated  in 
the  Detroit  Medical  College,  graduating  at 
that  institution  with  the  class  of  1871.  With 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  science  of  med- 
icine. Dr.  Bradfield  then  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  Danville, 
where  he  remained  for  one  year,  and  for 
the  following  seventeen  years  he  was  a 
prominent  medical  practitioner  of  Mount 
Liberty.  For  the  past  thirteen  years  he  has 
made  his  home  in  Danville.  His  skill  and 
ability  soon  became  recognized,  and  he  was 
not  long  in  building  up  an  excellent  practice 
in  this  city.  His  life  has  been  characterized 
by  energy,  perseverance  and  hard  work,  and 
to  these  principles  his  success  is  due,  and 
he  now  enjoys  the  honor  of  being  conceded 
the  acknowledged  peer  of  any  physician  in 
Knox  county. 

The  Doctor  was  married,  January  5, 
1868,  to  Miss  Sarah  Dunlap,  a  native  of 
Butler  township,  Knox  county,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Salathiel  and  Ann  (Burkholder)  Dun- 
lap,  early  pioneers  of  this  locality.  The 
Doctor  and  wife  have  had  three  children,-7- 
James  D.,  at  home;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of 
Lieutenant  Lanning  Parsons,  who  served  in 
the  Cuban  war  in  the  Philippines,  returning 
home  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  Fourth  United 
States  Cavalry,  and  now  located  at    Fort 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


103 


Leavenworth;  and  Estella,  deceased.  They 
also  have  two  grandchildren, — Harriet  E. 
and  Isabelle.  In  political  matters  the  Doc- 
tO'r  gives  his  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the 
IMethodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he 
has  long  served  as  a  trustee.  In  his  social 
relations  he  is  a  member  of  the  State  ]\Ied- 
ical  Society,  the  County  Medical  Society, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  and  of 
Mount  Zion  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Mount 
Vernon.  As  a  citizen  he  ever  stands  ready 
to  discharge  any  duty  devolving  upon  him, 
but  his  extensive  practice  requires  the 
greater  part  of  his  time  and  attention. 


SIMON  C.  LEPLEY. 

The  well  known  representative  of  the 
honored  family  of  Lepley  whose  name  is 
the  title  of  this  sketch  is  an  old  citizen  of 
Harrison  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio', 
having  been  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  lives  February  12,  1832.  His  father, 
George  Lepley,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  at  the  age  of  eleven  years  brought  to 
Knox  county  by  his  parents,  who  were 
among  the  early  pioneers.  He  was  reared 
in  Harrison  township  and  lived  there  the 
industrious  and  useful  life  of  a  progressive 
farmer,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
four  years. 

George  Lepley,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  married  Barbara  Baughman. 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  brought 
to  Knox  county  by  her  parents.  She  lived 
to  be  ninety-five  years  of  age.  George  and 
Barbara  (Baughman)  Lepley  had  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Simon  C.  Lepley  was    the 


seventh  in  order  of  birth.  The  boy  was 
reared  to  a  practical  experience  of  the  work 
of  clearing,  improving  and  cultivating  land 
and  developed  into  a  resourceful  and  suc- 
cessful farmer.  Such  educational  advant- 
ages as  were  available  to  him  he  obtained  in 
subscription  schools  taught  in  log  houses  of 
primitive  construction,  with  slab  seats  and 
benches,  puncheon  floors,  big  open  fire- 
places and  windows  of  greased  paper.  He 
remained  with  his  father,  assisting  him  in 
carrying  on  the  home  farm,  operations  until 
he  was  thirty-two  years  old. 

In  1864  Mr.  Lepley  married  Sarah  Bean, 
a  native  of  Jo'  Daviess  county,  Illinois.  Miss 
Bean,  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  her 
native  county,  was  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage temporarily  in  Wisconsin,  where  she 
met  Mr.  Lepley,  who  was  there  on  business 
and  who  brought  her  back  to  Knox  county 
as  his  wife.  They  began  housekeeping  in  a 
log  house  on  the  farm  on  which  Mr.  Lepley 
now  lives,  which  later  gave  place  to  a  more 
commodious  and  better  appointed  residence. 
In  1884  they  removed  to  Mount  Vernon, 
where  for  four  years  Mr.  Lepley  was  en- 
gaged in  the  bakery  business  and  where  Mrs. 
Lepley  died  in  1890.  After  the  death  of  his 
wife  he  went  to  Lima,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
m'ained  about  four  months,  going  thence  to 
Columbus,  Ohio-,  from  which  city  he  re- 
turned a  month  later  to  his  farm,  and  he  has 
since  devoted  himself  to  its  management  and 
to  blacksmithing.  His  farm  consists  of 
ninety-five  acres,  well  improved  and  under 
cultivation  and  equipped  with  a  good  resi- 
dence and  adequate  barns  and  other  out- 
buildings. 

Mr.  Lepley  is  not  without  influence  in 
township  affairs  and  has  twice  been  elected 
to  the  office  of  assessor.     In  politics  he  is 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


independent,  voting  always  for  the  man  who 
he  regards  as  best  qualified  for  the  place  to 
which  he  aspires.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Dis- 
ciples' church,  has  filled  some  of  its  official 
positions  and  been  active  in  its  work.  He  is 
honored  not  only  as  an  old  citizen  of  his 
township,  but  as  a  man  of  prominence  and 
public  spirit.  Simon  C.  and  Sarah  (Bean) 
Lep'ley  had  three  children,  named  Lawrence 
K.,  Lee  and  Jeanette.  Lawrence  K.  married 
Effie  M.  Farmer  and  operates  the  home- 
stead; Lee  married  Anna  Colgin,  who  re- 
sides on  a  near-by  farm;  and  Jeanette  re- 
sides with  her  brother  and  devotes  herself 
to  teaching  music. 


SAMUEL  SEVERNS. 

Samuel  Severns  has  passed  the  sev- 
enty-fifth milestone  on  the  journey  of  life, 
and  having  put  aside  the  more  arduous  cares 
of  business  is  now  quietly  living  retired  at 
his  home  in  Mt.  Vernon,  enjoying  a  well 
merited  rest.  He  is  a  native  of  Virginia, 
his  birth  occurring  in  Botetourt  county  on 
the  14th  of  January,  1827,  his  parents  be- 
ing Jonathan  and  Sarah  (McNare) Severns. 
When  he  was  five  years  of  age  his  parents 
left  the  Old  Dominion  and  removed  toi  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  and  in  1836  the  father  entered 
land  from  the  government  and  began  the 
development  of  a  farm.  The  son  assisted  in 
the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and  improving 
the  new  farm  as  his  age  and  strength  woiild 
permit,  and  in  the  subscription  schools  he 
pursued  his  education,  for  there  were  no 
public  schools  at  that  time.  On  entering 
business  life  for  himself  he  followed  the  oc- 
cupation to  which  he  was  reared,  but  later 
he  abandoned  farming  and  secured  a  posi- 
tion   in    a   boiler   yard.      Subsequently   he 


drove  a  team  for  a  Mr.  Norton,  and  was 
thus  engaged  for  eleven  years. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1853,  Mr. 
Severns  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  Jane  Hickman,  a  daughter  of  Thom- 
as C.  and  Catherine  (Fox)  Hickman.  Unto 
them  were  born  six  children,  namely :  Thom- 
as W.,  a  brick  mason  residing  in  Mount 
Vernon ;  William  Bryant,  a  boilermaker  who 
resides  in  Columbus;  Robert  E.,  who  fol- 
lows the  same  line  of  business  and  makes 
his  home  in  Mount  Vernon;  Iva  May,  as- 
sistant librarian  in  Mount  Vernon;  Frank 
Marion,  a  paperhanger  and  painter  of  this 
city;  and  Fred  G.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Mount  Vernon  school  and  noiw  employed  as 
a  salesman  in  Mount  Vernon. 

In  his  political  faith  Mr.  Severns  is  a 
Republican,  but  while  he  has  kept  well  in- 
formed on  the  issues  of  the  day  and  stanchly 
supports  the  principles  of  the  party  he  neyer 
sought  office  as  a  reward  for  party  fealty. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  his  life  is  in  harmony  with 
its  teachings.  He  was  ever  straightforward 
and  reliable  in  business,  faithful  to  his  duties 
of  citizenship  and  honorable  in  all  life's  re- 
lations. 


THOMAS  C.  HICKMAN. 

Thomas  Chaney  Hickman  became  one 
of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Knox  county  and 
was  deeply  interested  in  its  work  and  devel- 
opment, doing  what  he  could  to  promote  its 
welfare.  He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  was  a  representative  of  an  old  Quaker 
family  of  that  state.  His  parents  were 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Frame)  Hickman,  also 
natives  of  the  Keystone  state,  and  the  father 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.     When 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


105 


eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  Ohio  and 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Waj'ne  coun- 
ty. He  also  studied  survej'ing  and  he  came 
to  Mount  Vernon  to  do  clerical  work  for 
Mr.  Kinton,  one  of  the  first  officials  of  the 
county.  He  also  did  similar  work  for  Audi- 
tor Ben  Smith  and  a  Mr.  Herred,  and  thus 
he  became  widely  known  to  many  of  the 
leading  citizens.  His  worth  and  ability  be- 
ing recognized,  he  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  county  surveyor  and  held  that  position 
for  several  terms,  discharging  his  duties  in 
a  most  commendable  manner,  owing  to  his 
skill  in  the  line  of  his  profession.  He  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  surveying  for  many 
years. 

Mr.  Hickman  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Catharine  Fox,  a  daughter  of  William  • 
and  Mary  Fox,  and  unto  them  were  born 
eight  children:  Robert  M.  and  George 
Washington,  both  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased ;  Sarah  Jane ;  Robert  Marion,  who  is 
living  in  Warsaw,  Indiana ;  Mary  E. ;  Will- 
iam W.,  deceased:  Catharine,  deceased;  and 
Thomas  J.,  of  Springfield,  Ohio.  The  fa- 
ther died  in  1869  and  his  loss  was  deeply 
felt  throughout  the  community.  In  his  work 
as  county  surveyor  he  had  formed  a  wide 
acquaintance,  and  his  genuine  worth,  genial 
disposition  and  honor  won  him  many 
friends.  He  was  an  active  factor  in  the 
early  development  of  the  county,  and  did 
much  of  the  surveying  during  the  period  of 
the  pioneer  settlement  here. 


MARVIN  LYBARGER. 

Reference  has  been  made  in  these  pages 
to  the  value  of  Pennsylvania  stock  as  an 
influence  in  western  civilization  and  tD'  the 


prevalence  of  Pennsylvania  blood  in  Knox 
county,  Ohio.  A  representative  of  an  old 
Pennsylvania  family  in  Harrison  township 
is  Marvin  Lybarger,  a  prominent  farmer 
in  section  11.  and  the  son  of  a  pioneer.  He 
was  born  there  May  2,  1838. 

Andrew  Lybarger,  father  of  Marvin  Ly- 
barger, was  born  and  reared  in  the  Key- 
stone state  and  came  a  single  man  to  Knox 
county,  Ohio.  He  bought  a  farm  in  Har- 
rison township,  on  which  he  located  after 
his  marriage  in  a  house  of  round  logs,  which 
as  soon  as  possible  he  replaced  with  a  house 
of  hewed  logs,  the  latter  serving  its  purpose 
until  it  was  superceded  by  a  commodious 
modern  residence.  He  cleared  and  put  his 
land  under  cultivation  and  improved  a  good 
farm,  successfully  continuing  its  work  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  before  he  was 
sixty  years  old.  He  is  honored  as  having 
been  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Knox  county, 
and  he  is  remembered  as  a  well  educated, 
affable  man  who  had  been  a  school  teacher 
in  Pennsylvania.  Long  after  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Knox  county,  the  woods  about 
him  abounded  in  bear,  deer  and  other  va- 
rieties of  wild  game,  and  roving  Indians  fre- 
quently appeared  in  the  Ohio  settlements. 
His  ancestors  came  from  Germany,  and  in 
Pennsylvania  were  men  of  substantial  worth- 
Andrew  Lybarger  married  Catharine 
Lybarger,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  who 
had  been  brought  as  a  child  to  Knox  coun- 
ty by  her  parents,  Frederick  Lybarger  and 
wife,  who  were  early  settlers  in  Harrison 
township.  She  died  before  she  attained  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  She  bore  her  hus- 
band five  sons  and  four  daughters,  two  of 
whom  died  young  and  only  four  sons  are 
now  living.  Of  these  children,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch   was   the  seventh  child   and 


jo6 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


fourth  son  in  order  of  birth.  He  \vas  reared 
in  Harrison  township  and  gained  a  prac- 
tical common  school  education  in  the 
log  school  houses  in  his  vicinity,  mean- 
time gaining  a  good  knowledge  of  farm- 
ing, in  which  he  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged until  the  present  time.  He  was 
married  on  January  17,  1861,  to  Cleora 
Lepley,  a  native  of  Harrison  township,  born 
June  19,  1838,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Densey  (Purdy)  Lepley,  of  an  old  family  in 
Knox  county.  Her  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania  and  something  of  their 
history  is  given  in  a  biographical  sketch  of 
her  brother,  Marvin  Lepley,  which  appears 
in  this  work.  Mrs.  Lybarger,  who  was  the 
third  in  order  of  birth  of  her  parents'  family 
of  nine  children,  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Harrison  township.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Lybarger  located  on  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Uncle  Jake  Welker  farm  in  Harrison 
township  and  lived  upon  it  until  1868,  when 
he  bought  the  farm  known  as  the  old  Devore 
farm,  in  the  same  township,  which  was  his 
home  until  1890,  when  he  moved  to  his 
present  homestead,  still  retaining  ownership 
of  the  Devore  farm.  The  two  farms  aggre- 
gate two  hundred  and  nine  acres  and  both 
are  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  equipped  for  modern  farming.  Mr. 
Lybarger  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive farmers  of  Knox  county.  He  is  de- 
voted to  the  general  principles  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  but  is  so  independent  of  po- 
litical bondage  that  he  makes  it  a  rule  to 
vote  for  men  rather  than  measures.  He  is 
widely  known  as  a  stockman  and  has  for 
years  made  a  specialty  of  sheep,  of  which  he 
has  raised  and  handled  large  numbers,  each 
year  fattening  a  flock  of  from  seventy-five 
to  one  hundred  head. 


Marvin  and  Cleora  (Lepley)  Lybarger 
have  had  four  children.  Their  son  Silas 
married  Savilla  Witt  and  has  a  daughter 
named  Clorah.  They  live  near  his  father. 
John  A.  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months. 
Their  son,  Emanuel  S.,  who  is  a  partner  of 
his  father,  as  is  also  Silas,  married  Bertha 
Eley.  By  his  first  wife,  Ollie  Henwood,  he 
has  a  daughter  named  Lula  M.,  and  by  his 
present  wife  has  two  sons,  named  A\"alter 
Henry  and  Clarence  Dewey.  Alfred  Dean 
Lybarger,  a  young  man  of  twenty,  is  still 
at  home  with  his  father. 


MARVIN  LEPLEY. 

No  eastern  state  furnished  to  the  west 
a  more  \-aluable  part  of  its  pioneer  popula- 
tion that  Pennsylvania,  and  no  state  in  the 
west  is  more  greatly  indebted  to  Pennsyl- 
vania than  is  Ohio.  Prominent  among  the 
names  of  Pennsylvania  settlers  in  Knox 
county  is  that  of  Lepley,  which  belongs  to 
a  family  now  well  represented  in  Harrison 
township  and  in  its  various  branches  in  other 
parts  of  the  county. 

Marvin  Lepley,  who  is  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Harrison  township,  was  born 
there  October  26,  1847,  ^  son  of  William 
Lepley,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  In  boy- 
hood the  latter  came  to-  Knox, county  and 
lived  there  until  he  was  about  fifty  years 
old,  when  he  was  killed  by  an  accident  in  a 
sawmill.  Jacob  Lepley,  father  of  William 
Lepley  and  grandfather  of  Marvin  Lepley, 
was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
the  original  pioneer  of  this  particulai:  fam- 
ily of  Lepleys  in  Knox  county.  Densey 
Purdy,  who  married  William  Lepley  and  be- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


107 


came  the  mother  of  Alarvin  Lepley,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  and  was  brought  by  her 
parents  to  Ohio  when  she  was  two  years  old 
and  later  came  with  them  to  Knox. county. 
^Ir.  and  Mrs.  William  Lepley  had  nine  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom  died  in  childhood, 
the  youngest  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
Marvin  Lepley  was  their  seventh  child  and 
fourth  son  in  order  of  birth.  The  recollec- 
tions of  his  childhood  cluster  around  a  little 
log  house  in  the  woods,  which  was  the 
humble  home  of  the  family,  and  about  a 
primitive  school  house,  in  which  he  attended 
an  old-fashioned  subscription  school. 

]\Ir.  Lepley  was  a  member  of  his  father's 
household  until  he  was  twenty-three  years 
old.  He  was  married  November  14,  1869, 
to  Lydia  Shellman,  a  native  of  Wayne  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  who  was  brought  to  Knox  county 
at  the  age  of  three  years  by  her  parents, 
William  and  Susan  (Freeman)  Shellman, 
early  settlers  in  Wayne  county.  Mrs.  Lep- 
ley's  mother  died  at  the  age  of  sixty;  her 
father  died  two  years  ago.  They  had  two 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  she  was 
the  fourth  in  order  of  nativity.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Lepley  located  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  lives,  building  upon  it  a  log 
house,  which  was  his  home  until  he  could 
replace  it  with  a  better  one.  His  present 
comfortable  residence  was  built  in  1894. 
His  farm  consists  of  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
six  and  one-half  acres  and  is  devoted  to  gen- 
eral farming  and  the  raising  of  cattle  and 
hogs.  Mr.  Lepley  was  reared  in  the  Demo- 
cratic faith,  and  has  since  majority  voted 
the  Democratic  ticket  persistently  and  con- 
sistently. His  influence  in  local  political  af- 
fairs is  recognized  by  his  fellow  townsmen, 
whom  he  served  six  years  in  the  office  of 
constable,  and  he  has  filled  other  local  of- 


fices of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Mount  Zion  Lutheran  church, 
in  which  he  has  been  called  to  imporant  of- 
ficial positions. 

Marvin  and  Lydia  (Shellman)  Lepley 
have  had  born  to  them  three  children  :  Ella, 
who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  years,  and  Charles  and  Dessie,  who  are 
members  of  their  parents'  household.  The 
family  are  well  known  not  only  thoughout 
the  township,  but  in  more  remote  parts  of 
the  county,  and  the  name  is  everjnvhere  re- 
spected. Mr.  Lepley's  career  has  been  one 
which  has  demonstrated  the  value  of  hon- 
esty, integrity  and  perseverance  to  one  who 
would  succeed  in  life,  and  those  who  know 
him  best  know  that  his  success  is  well  de- 
served. 


CLINTON  M.  RICE. 

Clinton  M.  Rice,  one  of  the  representa- 
tive citizens  and  leading  attorneys  of  Knox 
county,  is  a  native  son  of  the  Buckeye  state, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Brown  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  November  7,  1857,  and 
is  a  worthy  representative  of  a-  prominent 
old  family  of  the  Keystone  state.  His  pater- 
nal grandfather  was  born,  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  but 
his  death  occurred  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  to 
which  place  he  .had  removed  in  an  early  day. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith  bv  occupa- 
tion. Ephraimi  Rice,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Bedford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, but  in  1829  he  came  to  this  state, 
locating  on  a  farm  in  Union  township,  Knox 
county.  He  afterward  took  up  his  abode  in 
Brown  township,  and  there  his  death  oc- 
curred at  the  age  of  sixty-two  vears.     He 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and 
for  many  years  served  as  township  trustee, 
while  for  twenty-two  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board.  A  sincere  Chris- 
tian gentleman,  he  long  held  membership  in 
the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Tlie  moth- 
er of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Mary  M.  Porter,  and  she  was  bom  on  the 
same  farm  which  our  subject  claims  as  the 
place  of  his  nativity.  She  still  survives  her 
husband,  and  has  now  reached  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years.  Her  father,  John  Porter, 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  but  he  early  be- 
came a  resident  of  the  Buckeye  state,  and  for 
many  years  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
foremost  citizens  of  Knox  county.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of 
whom  make  their  home  in  this  county  and 
are  an  honor  to  an  honored  famih'  name. 

Clinton  M.  Rice,  the  immediate  subject 
of  this  review,  attended  the  district  schools 
of  Brown  township  in  his  early  life,  while 
later  he  became  a  student  in  the  Danville 
Normal  School,  and  his  education  was  com- 
pleted in  Kenyon  College.  For  twelve  years 
after  leaving  the  schoolroom  as  a  pupil  he 
followed  the  profession  of  teaching  in  Knox 
county.  He  is  a  ripe  scholar  and  assiduous 
student,  and  his  work  as  a  teacher  was  at- 
tended with  a  high  degree  of  success.  Dur- 
ing this  time  Mr.  Rice  also  pursued  the 
study  of  law,  and  in  1888  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Mount  Vernon.  In  the  same 
year  he  came  to  Danville  and  at  once  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession, 
his  worth  and  ability  soon  becoming  recog- 
nized, and  he  now  enjoys  a  large  and  con- 
stantly growing  clientage.  For  ten  years  he 
was  engaged  in  the  banking  business  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Wolfe,  but  he  then  retired 


from  that  industry  in  order  to  give  his  en- 
tire time  to  his  lan'ge  law  practice.  During 
his  residence  in  Danville  he  has  also  become 
an  important  factor  in  the  public  life  of  the 
town,  and  has  served  his  fellow  townsmen 
in  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  ;  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board  since 
1888,  and  in  Brown  township,  in  1882,  he 
was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace,  receiving 
everv  vote  cast  in  the  township  for  that  of- 
fice.' 

On  the  4th  of  No\-ember,  1886.  was  cele- 
bTated  the  marriage  of  ^Ir.  Rice  and  Miss 
Osena  M.  Gillmore,  a  native  of  Knox  coun- 
ty and  a  daughter  of  Francis  and  M.  J. 
(Loney)  Gillmore,  prominent  early  settlers 
of  this  county.  A  daughter  has  come  to 
brighten  and  bless  the  home  of  our  subject 
and  wife,  Mary  C,  who  is  the  light  and 
life  of  the  household.  Mr.- 'Rice  is  a  worthy 
and  acceptable  member  of  the  Masonic  or- 
der, holding  membership  in  Danville  Lodge, 
No.  546,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Maccabees.  Religiously  he  is  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  pohtically  he  is  identified  with 
the  Democracy.  He  stands  on  the  side  of 
progress,  advancement  and  civilization,  fa- 
voring education,  religion,  law  and  order, 
and  whatever  makes  for  the  good  of  the 
people  as  individuals  and  as  communities. 


CALVIN  WEBSTER  BECKLEY. 

In  reveiwing  this  history  of  Calvin 
Webster  Beckley  one  is  reminded  of  the 
words  of  a  great  New  York  financier,  "If 
you're  not  a  success  don't  blame  the  times 
you  live  in,  don't  blame  the  place  you  oc- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


109 


cupy,  don't  blaaiie  the  circumstances  with 
which  you  are  surrounded — lay  the  blame 
where  it  belongs — to  yourself.  If  you  want 
success  you  must  pay  the  price."  Realizing 
the  truth  of  this,  Mr.  Beckley  has  paid  the 
price — which  is  willingness  to  work,  con- 
tinued effort  and  indefatigable  energy,  and 
thus  he  come  to  be  classed  among  the  sub- 
stantial agriculturists  of  his  native  county. 
He  is  a  native  of  Clinton  township,  born 
March  4,  i860,  his  parents  being  Josiah  and 
Elizabeth  (Veach)  Beckley.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  George  Beckley,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  wedded  Nancy  Watson, 
who  was  boTn  in  Maryland.  Soon  after- 
Avard  they  emigrated  westward,  settling  near 
East  Union,  Ohio,  and  subsequently  they  re- 
moved to  Pleasant  township,  Knox  county, 
where  the  grandfather  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eight  years,  having  been  born  in  1804, 
while  his  wife,  who'  was  born  in  1803, 
reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety-two 
3-ears.  Their  son,  Josiah  Beckley,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  and  there  remained  until  sev- 
enteen ;years  of  age,  spending  the  days  of  his 
childhood  and  youth  upon  the  home  farm. 
He  was  then  married  to  Elizabeth  Veach, 
and  with  his  bride  came  to  Knox  county, 
where  he  lived  until  his  life's  labors!  were 
ended  in  death.  Unto  M'r.  and  Mrs.  Beck- 
ley were  born  twelve  children,  namely  :  Cal- 
vin; Lorin  Edgar;  William  L. ;  Louisa  El- 
len, the  deceased  wife  of  Douglas  Wilson; 
Sarah  Ann,  who  married  Milton  Strieker; 
George  W. ;  Nancy  L.,  deceased ;  Mamie ; 
Grace,  who  passed  away;  Mina  Bell,  the 
wife  of  Frank  Woods ;  Daisy  M. ;  and  Ellis 
J.  The  .father  died  in  1894,  but  the  mother 
is  still  living  on  the  oW  homestead  in  Jack- 
son township.     She  was  born  in  Harrison 


township  and  her  entire  life  has  betn  passed 
in  Knox  county. 

Under  the  parental  roof  Calvin  W.  Beck- 
ley was  reared.  During  his  minority  his 
parents  lived  first  in  Pleasant  and  then  in 
Jackson  township,  and  in  the  common 
schools  near  his  home  he  pursued  his  educa- 
tion, pursuing  his  studies  through  the  win- 
ter months  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  left  the  schoolroom  in,  order  to  give  his 
entire  attention  tO'  agricultural  pursuits. 
From  the  time  that  he  was  old  enough  to 
handle  the  plow  he  has  worked  tO'  a  greater 
or  less  extent  in  the  fields,  and  his  labors 
have  resulted  in  bringing  to  him  a  good  an- 
nual income.  He  now  cultivates  a  good  tract 
of  land.  Tlie  well  tilled  fields  surround  sub- 
stantial improvements,  including  good  out- 
buildings and  a  comfortable  residence. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1889,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Beckley  and  Miss  Anna 
F.  M'iller,  a  daughter  of  Charles  H.  and 
Sarah  Ann  (Cavin)  Miher,  and  a  grand- 
daughter of  Jonathan  Miller,  a  native  of 
Maryland.  Mrs.  Beckley  was  born  in  Mount 
Vernon  March  24,  1863,  and  represents  one 
of  the  early  families  of  the  county.  Two 
children  grace  the  union  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife :  Warner  Miller,  who  was  born 
August  16,  1890,  and  Robeirt  J.  C,  born 
February  16,  1899.  ^^-  Beckley  and  his 
family  attend  the  services  of  the  Disciples' 
church,  of  which  both  are  members.  His 
political  views  are  in  harmony  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democracy,  and  in  1896  he  was 
elected  as  one  of  the  trustee  of  Morris  town- 
ship, serving  continuously  in  this  capacity  up 
to  the  present  time  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  all  concerned.  He  is  one  of  the  best 
posted  men  on  county  affairs  in  Knox  coun- 
ty, and  is  a  public-spirited  man,  giving  his 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


aid  and  co-operation  to  all  measures  for  the 
general  good.  He  has  gained  many  friends 
in  this  part  of  the  state  and  therefore  his 
history  cannot  fail  to  prove  of  interest  to 
many  of  our  readers. 


MICHAEL  \\^\NDER. 

Michael  Wander,  a  prominent  early  set- 
tler and  farmer  of  Knox  county,  was  born  in 
Alsace,  France,  noAv  a  province  of  Germany, 
on  the  14th  of  February,  1829,  a  son  of 
Benjamin  and  Margaret  (Oswald)  Wander, 
natives  of  the  same  province,  but  of  Ger- 
man origin.  In  1829,  soon  after  the  birth  of 
our  subject,  they  left  their  French  home 
and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  the  United 
States,  locating  in  Yates  county,  New  York. 
In  1837  they  removed  from  that  locality  to 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  a  settlement  being  made 
in  Jefferson  township,  where  the  father 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years. 
The  mother  reached  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  This  worthy  couple  be- 
came the  parents  of  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  were  born  in  France,  and  three  of 
the  family  died  before  the  removal  to  the 
new  world.  Only  three  of  the  seven  chil- 
dren are  now  living :  Michael ;  Benjamin,  of 
Danville;  and  George,  of  Perrysville,  Ash- 
land County,  Ohio.  Frederick  died  in  Owen 
county,  Indiana,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years. 

Michael  Wander,  the  eldest  son  and  the 
fourth  child  in  order  of  birth,  was  only  about 
four  months  old  ^\•hen  he  was  brought  by 
his  parents  to  America,  and  when  he  was 
eight  years  of  age  he  accompanied  them  on 
their  removal  'to  Knox  countv,  Ohio.     Dur- 


ing his  youth  he  enjoyed  but  limited  educa- 
tional advantages,  and  he  was  first  taught 
the  German  language,  having  been  a  lad  of 
thirteen  years  when  he  first  began  to  learn 
to  speak  and  write  English.  He  assisted 
his  father  in  the  fields  during  the  day,  and 
in  the  evenings  he  would  devote  his  time 
to  study,  using  every  opportunity  to  secure 
an  education.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage,  when  twenty-six  years 
of  age,  after  which  he  located  on  a  farm  in 
Jefferson  township,  secured  by  the  assist- 
ance of  his  father,  where  he  remained  until 
his  removal  to  Union  township,  in  1883, 
purchasing  the  farm  which  he  now  owns. 
His  home  place,  adjoining  the  village  of 
Danville,  consists  of  one  hundred  and  four- 
teen acres  of  excellent  land,  all  of  which  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  im- 
proved with  many  and  valuable  improve- 
ments, and  there  he  is  extensively  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  also  owns 
a  tract  of  fifty-eight  acres  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship. At  one  time  his  landed  possessions 
consisted  of  five  hundred  and  ninety  acres, 
but  he  has  since  divided  his  land  among  his 
children. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1855,  Mr.  Wander 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Catherine  Stillin- 
ger,  by  whom  he  had  five  children, — John 
B.,  Susana,  Charlie,  Mary  and  Peter.  The 
last  named  died  when  seven  years  of  age. 
The  wife  and  mother  was  also  called  to  her 
final  rest  after  a  married  life  of  about  fifteen 
years,  and  after  her  death  Mr.  Wander  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Sarah  (Baltner)  Arnholt,  the 
widow  of  George  Arnholt,  and  by  her  mar- 
riage with  our  subject  she  became  the  mother 
of  one  son,  Edwin.  She  died  after  a  com- 
panionship with  her  husband  of  seventeen 
vears.    For  his  third  wife  Mr.  Wander  chose 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


I\Iiss  Catherine  Maple,  of  Berlin,  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  their  wedding  being  cele- 
brated November  29,  1892.  They  also  have 
one  son,  Clinton,  seven  years  of  age.  Our 
subject  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Lincoln  in  i860,  but  he  is  independent  in  his 
political  views,  voting  for  the  men  whom  he 
regards  as  best  qualified  for  public  positions. 
He  served  as  trustee  of  Union  and  Jefferson 
township,  was  treasurer  of  the  latter  town- 
ship, and  was  there  elected  to  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  but  this  occurring  just 
at  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Union  town- 
ship he  therefore  could  not  accept  the  honor. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  a  trus- 
tee. The  family  occupy  a  pleasant  and  com- 
modious residence,  where  their  hospitality  is 
enjoyed  by  their  many  friends.  Their  home 
is  one  of  the  most  desirable  in  this  part  of 
Knox  county. 


JOSEPH  F.  BLUBAUGH. 

This  well  and  favorably  known  citizen 
of  Danville  is  extensively  engaged  in  the 
timber  business.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  September 
22,  1852.  His  grandfather,  John  Blubaugh, 
was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  1  this  coun- 
ty, having  located  in  this  section  when  it 
was  inhabited  principally  by  Indians  and 
wild  animals.  Benjamin  Blubaugh,  his  son 
and  the  father  of  our  subject,  claimed  Penn- 
sylvania as  the  state  of  his  nativity,  but 
when  a  boy  he  came  witb  hisi  parents  to 
Ohio,  securing  the  eighty  acres  of  land 
which  our  subject  now  owns.  He  spent  most 
of  his  life  upon  this  farm.  In  Knox  coun- 
ty, in  1835,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 


Shorten  Heckler,  a  native  of  Hamburg, 
Germany,  but  when  a  child  she  came  to 
Knox  county.  This  worthy  couple  became 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  are  still 
living.  ' 

Joseph  F.  Blubaugh,  the  fifth  child  and 
third  son  in  order  of  birth  in  the  above  fam- 
ily, was  reared  to  farm  Jife  in  Jefferson 
township,  Knox  county,  and  he  received  an 
excellent  common-school  education  in  his  lo- 
cality. For  twenty  years  after  leaving  the 
schoolroom  as  a  pupil  he  followed  the  teach- 
er's profession,  and  with  the  exception  of 
three  terms  spent  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
he  taught  continuoush'  in  Knox  county. 
Throughout  this  period,  however,  he  worked 
in  the  fields  during  the  summer  months.  In 
1882  he  went  to  Harper  county,  Kansas, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm,  but  one  year 
later  he  sold  his  possessions  there  and  re- 
turned to  the  place  of  his  nativity,  where  he 
resumed  his  farming  and  teaching.  In  1892 
he  abandoned  the  work  of  the  schoolroom, 
and  from  that  time  until  1899  ^^  gave  his 
undivided  time  and  attention  to  the  work 
of  the  farm.  In  the  latter  year,  however,  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Danville  and  engaged 
in  the  timber  business,  buying  and  shipping 
timber  to  Buffalo  and  Cleveland.  As  a  busi- 
ness man  he  is  practical  and  progressive, 
and  his  efforts  in  his  chosen  endeavor  are 
bringing  to  him  handsome  financial  returns. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Blubaugh,was  cele- 
brated in  1875,  when  Lillias  J.  Smith  be- 
came his  wife.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Rebecca  Smith,  prominent  residents  of 
Jefferson  township,  Knox  county.  Unto 
this  union  have  been  born  four  children, — 
Edwin  Gu}',  a  popular  and  successful  teach- 
er; Elna  Varonica,  at  home;  Estella;  and 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


Ida.  On  questions  of  national  importance 
Mr.  Blubaugh'  casts  his  ballot  in  favor  of 
the  Democracy.  For  ten  years  he  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  Jefferson 
township,  but  on  his  removal  to  Danville 
he  resigned  that  position,  and  in  1901  he 
was  again  elected  to  the  office,  being  the 
present  incumbent.  For  many  years  he  has 
served  as  a  school  director,  the  cause  of  ed- 
ucation ever  finding  in  him  a  warm  and 
faithful  firiend.  The  family  are  prominent 
and  active  members  of  St.  Luke's  Catholic 
church,  Mr.  Blubaugh  having  been  onei  of 
the  builders  of  that  church  in  Danville,  and 
the  stone  used  in  its  erection  was  secured 
from  his  land.  He  has  long  served  as  a 
steward  of  the  church,  and  has  ever  taken 
an  active  part  in  promoting  its  progress  and 
upbuilding. 

4  «  » 

ALEXANDER  CASSIL. 

For  more  than  two-thirds  of  a  century 
Colonel  Alexander  Cassil  has  resided  in 
Knox  county  and  during  the  greater  part  of 
the  period  since  he  attained  his  majority  he 
has  been  in  the  public  service.  His  record 
is  one  characterized  by  unfaltering  al- 
legiance to  duty  and  his  fidelity  and  trust- 
worthiness have  at  all  times  gained  him  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  men. 
When  the  Union  was  imperilled  by  Rebel- 
lion in  the  south  he  was  among  those  who 
stood  in  defense  of  the  stan-y  banner  and 
the  cause  it  represented  and  at  all  times  he 
has  been  a  loyal  and  patriotic  citizen. 

The  Colonel  is  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  his  birth  oc- 
curred in  1825,  his  parents  being  John  and 
Nancy  (Welsh)  Cassil.  On  the  paternal 
side  the  family  is  of  Irish  -lineage,  Alexander 


Cassil,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  hav- 
ing been  a  native  of  county  Armagh,  Ire- 
land, whence  he  emigrated  to  America,  and 
when  the  colonies  attempted  to  throw  off  the 
yoke  of  British  oppression  he  joined  the 
American  forces  and  aided  in  winning  inde- 
pendence for  this  republic.  His  son,  John 
Cassil,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
thus  in  the  various  important  wars  of  the 
country  the  Cassil  family  has  always  been 
represented  by  patriotic  defenders  of  the 
right.  In  1834  John  Cassil  brought  his  fam- 
ily to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  locating  in  How- 
ard township,  where  he  developed  and  cul- 
tivated a  farm,  upon  which  he  lived  until  his 
death,  in  1847,  when  he  was  seventy-four 
years  of  age.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1869, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  They  were  con- 
sistent Christian  people,  Mr.  Cassil  belong- 
ing to  the  Presbyterian  church,  his  wife  to 
the  Disciple  church.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Robert  Welsh  and  was  of  Scotch  descent. 
By  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of 
eight  children :  William,  whoi  served  as 
township  treasurer,  and  died  in  Millwood, 
this  county,  in  1867;  Mary,  who  was  the 
wife  of  John  Mcllroy,  of  Howard  town- 
ship, and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years ; 
John,  who  died  in  Howard  township,  in 
1868;  Nancy,  who  married  Nelson  Critch- 
field  and  died  in  Ringgold  county,  Iowa, 
near  Mount  Ayr,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one; 
James,  who  is  living  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six;  Robert,  a  farmer 
of  Howard  to-wnship,  Knox  county,  now 
eighty-four  years  of  age;  Esther,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Critchfield,  of 
Howard  township,  this  county,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-nine  years ;  and  Alexan- 
der, of  this  review,  who  is  the  youngest  of 
the  family. 


^ 


ALEXANDER  CASSIL. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


113 


When  only  nine  j-ears  of  age  Colonel 
Cassil  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Knox 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His 
youth  was  spent  upon  the  home  farm  and 
his  education  was  acquired  in  the  common 
schools  and  in  the  Sloan  Academy,  in  Mount 
Vernon.  He  studied  civil  engineering  and 
surveying  and  became  quite  proficient  in 
those  branches  but  remained  upon  the  farm 
until  the  country  became  involved  in  civil 
-war.  He  had  watched  with  interest  the 
progress  of  events  in  the  south  and  when 
a  blow  was  struck  against  the  Union  he  of- 
fered his  services  in  its  defense  and  raised 
Company  A  of  the  Sixty-fifth  Ohio  Infan- 
try, of  which  he  was  commissioned  captain. 
He  served  in  that  capacity  until  1862,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant 
colonel  of  his  regiment,  acting  in  that  capac- 
ity until  wounds  sustained  at  the  battle  of 
Stone  River  forced  him  to  resign  in  March, 
1863.  During  his  service  as  lieutenant  col- 
onel he  had  entire  command  of  the  regiment, 
while  Colonel  C.  H.  Harper  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  brigade.  In  the  battle  of  Stone 
River  his  horse  was  shot  and  fell  upon  him. 
He  participated  in  the  engagements  at  Shi- 
loh,  Perry ville  and  other  battles  and  his  own 
bravery  and  loyalty  inspired  his  men  to 
deeds  of  valor. 

On  leaving  ihe  service  Colonel  Cassil  re- 
turned to  his  home  and  in  1864  was  elected 
county  auditor  of  Knox  county,  serving  for 
two  terms,  or  until  1868.  He  then  went  into 
railroad  work  as  a  civil  engineer  on  the 
Cleveland,  Akron  &  Columbus  Railroad,  but 
later  was  again  called  to  public  office,  being 
elected  county  auditor  in  1875  ^"d  again  in 
1877,  so  that  he  served  until  1880,  covering 
altogether  four  terms'  service  in  that  posi- 
tion.    From  1880  until  i88s  he  was  asso- 


ciated with  his  son,  Austin,  in  the  book  bus- 
iness in  Mount  Vernon  and  from  1885  un- 
til 1890  he  followed  his  profession.  He 
was  then  appointed  city  engineer  of  Mount 
Vernon  and  has  since  occupied  that  posi- 
tion, covering  an  incumbency  of  eleven 
years. 

In  1850  Mr.  Cassil  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Vincent,  who  died 
in  1859,  leaving  two  children:  Austin  A., 
an  attorney-at-law  of  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa, 
who  has  a  daughter,  Mary  Cassil,  now  in 
Mount  Vernon;  and  W.  R.,  who  died  in 
Mount  Vernon  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-three years.  In  1874  the  Colonel  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Miss  Jennie  E.  Hunter,  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Hunter,  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  Their 
children  are  Harvey  H.  and  Hurd  Alexan- 
der. The  former  is  now  legal  and  statistical 
clerk  in  the  office  of  the  state  school  com- 
missioner, with  headquarters  in  Columbus, 
Ohio;  while  Hurd  A.  is  a  civil  engineer  in 
the  employ  of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railroad 
Company,  at  Saginaw,  Michigan.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mabel  Putt,  of  Mount  Vernon, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Armond  H. 

The  Colonel  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  and  is  a  prominent  Mason, 
having  taken  the  various  degrees  of  the 
York  rite,  while  in  the  Scottish  rite  he 
has  attained  the  thirty-second  degree.  He 
is  a  past  master  of  the  lodge,  past  high  priest 
of  the  chapter,  past  illustrious  master  of 
the  council  and  eminent  commander  of  the 
commandery.  He  also  is  identified  with 
the  Knights  of  Honor,  and  since  twenty-five 
years  of  age  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Disciple  church.  His  life  has  been  a  busy 
and  useful  one  and  in  the  public  offices  which 
he  has  been  called  upon  to  fulfill  he  has  ren- 


114 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


dered  efficient  and  faithful  service,  therein 
showing  himself  as  loyal  to  his  country  as 
when  he  wore  the  soldier's  suit  of  blue  upon 
the  battlefields  of  the  south. 


GEORGE  SAPP. 


George  Sapp,  a  member  of  an  honored 
pioneer  family  of  the  Buckeye  state,  was 
born  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides 
on  the  loth  of  April,  1826.  His  grandfa- 
ther, George  Sapp,  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, but  became  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Knox  county.  He  built  the  first  Cath- 
olic church  in  Union  township,  also  donat- 
ing the  ground  upon  which  it  was  erected 
and  the  St.  Luke's  cemetery  lot.  The  church 
was  a  small  one-room  log  building.  He 
reached  the  eighty-fifth  milestone  on  the 
journey  of  life,  and  throughout  his  long  and 
useful  career  he  soi  lived  as  tO'  win  and  retain 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 
Levi  Sapp,  his  son  and  the  father  of  our 
subject,  also  claimed  Maryland  as  the  state 
of  his  nativity,  but  when  a  babe  he  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  this  state,  his 
mother,  who  made  the  journey  on  horseback, 
carrying  him  in  a  sack,  while  the  father 
walked  and  led  the  horse.  He  was  reared 
to  the  quiet  pursuits  of  the  farm,  and  his 
marriage  was  celebrated  in  Somerset,  Ohio, 
to  which  place  he  rode  on  horseback,  and 
after  his  marriage  he  located  on  the  farm 
on  which  his  son  George  now  resides,  where 
he  made  his  home  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1882  he  removed  to  Mount  Vernon,  and 
there  spent  his  remaining  days,  passing 
away  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  He, 
too,  was  a  prominent  member  of  St.  Luke's 


Catholic  church.  The  lady  who  became  his 
wife  bore  the  name  of  Mary  Colopy.  Her 
father,  Timothy  Colopy,  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  Ireland  and  her  mother  from  Ger- 
many, and  they  became  prominent  early  set- 
tlers of  Knox  county,  their  deaths  occurring 
in  Mount  Vernon,  where  they  had  resided 
for  many  years.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sapp  was  blessed  with  ten  children,  eight 
of  whom  still  survive,  the  eldest  child  in  or- 
der of  birth  being  Sarah',  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Bradfield,  of  Danville;  another  daughter, 
Lucinda,  resides  in  Union  township,  and  is 
the  widow  of  John  Durbin. 

George  Sapp,  the  second  child  and  eld- 
est son  in  .the  above  family,  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Knox  county,  and  during  his 
3'outh  he  attended  a  log  schoolhouse,  which 
was  furnished  with  slab  seats  and  desks. 
Since  his  marriage  he  has  engaged  in  farm- 
ing the  old  Sapp  homestead,  which  consists 
of  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land, 
all  of  which  is  under  an  excellent  state  of 
culti\-ation  and  improved  with  good  and  sub- 
stantial buildings,  everything  about  the  place 
indicating  the  supervision  of  a  thrifty  and 
progressive  owner.  In  matters  of  national 
interest  he  gives  an  intelligent  support  to 
the  Democracy,  but  at  local  election  he  votes 
for  the  men  whom  he  regards  as  best  qual- 
ified to  fill  positions  of  public  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility. 

On  July  24,  1853,  Mr.  Sapp  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Delia  A.  White,  also 
a  native  of  Knox  county,  born  September  27, 
1832,  and  a  daughter  of  Anthony  and 
Keziah  (Wade)  White,  early  pioneers  of 
this  portion  of  the  Buckeye  state.  Seven 
children  have  been  born  unto  this  union, 
namely :  Flora,  the  wife  of  John  P.  Breck- 
ler,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Howard  town- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


"5 


ship;  Mary  Keziali,  wife  of  M.  P.  Ham- 
mond, also  a  farmer  of  Howard  township; 
Ella,  the  wife  of  Patrick  Percel,  of  Moimt 
Vernon;  Julian,  who  married  Cassie  Wig- 
gins and  makes  his  home  in  Howard  town- 
ship; Jennie,  wife  of  P.  J.  Matingly,  of 
Licking  county,  Ohio;  Lucy,  wife  of  B.  R. 
Parker,  of  Cleveland ;  and  Bertha,  who  lives 
with  her  uncle.  Dr.  L.  W.  Sapp,  of  Cleve- 
land. The  family  were  all  born  on  the 
farm  on  which  Air.  Sapp  also^  opened  his 
eyes  to  the  light  of  day,  and  they  are  all 
members  of  St.  Luke's  Catholic  church  at 
Danville,  Mr.  Sapp  having  assisted  largely 
in  the  erection  of  the  house  of  worship.  His 
genial  manner  makes  him  popular  in  all  cir- 
cles, and  his  friends  in  the  community  are 
almost   as  many  as   his   acquaintances. 


LYMAN  W.  BLACK. 

Lyman  Wright  Black,  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war  and  a  well-knoiwn  farmer  of  Union 
township,  residing  on  section  24,  has  spent 
his  entire  life  in  Knox  county,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Union  township  October  2, 
1835.  The  family  is  of  German  descent,  and 
was  founded  in  America  at  an  early  day. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  where  also  occurred  the 
birth  of  Andrew  Black,  the  father  of  Ly- 
man, who  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
Keystone  state,  whence  he  emigrated  to 
Knox  county  at  an  early  period  in  the  de- 
velopment of  this  part  of  tlie  state.  Here 
he  located  upon  a  farm,  which  he  conducted 
throughout  his  remaining  days.  His  polit- 
ical support  was  given  the  Whig  party  until 
its  dissolution,  when  he  joined  the  ranks  of 


the  new  Republican  party,  continuing  one 
of  its  warm  advocates  throughout  his  re- 
maining days.  For  many  years  he  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  and  his  decisions 
were  distinguished  by  marked  equity  and 
freedom  from  personal  bias.  He  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Methodist  church,  and  was 
active  in  its  work.  His  death  occurred 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  Before  leaving  Pennsylvania  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  A.  Huff,  who  spent  her  girl- 
hood days  in  that  state,  where  she  was  born. 
She  too,  was  of  German  lineage,  and  her 
death  occurred  when  she  was  about  sixty 
years  of  age.' 

Lyman  Wright  Black  was  the  fifth  child 
and  second  son  in  a  family  of  six  sons  and 
two  daughters  born  unto  his  parents.  He- 
acquired  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
and  in  his  youth  worked  in  the  fields  through 
the  summer  months.  When  the  country  be- 
came involved  in  Civil  war  he  offered  his 
services  tO'  the  government  and  enlisted  in 
Company  B,  Ninety-sixth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  in  1862.  For  three  years  he  was 
numbered  among  the  defenders  of  the  Union, 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Arkansas 
Post  and  Vicksburg,  together  with  many 
lesser  engagements.  For  a  time  he  was  in 
the  hospital  at  Vicksburg  and  was  then  sent 
to  St.  Louis.  He  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  after  three 
years'  service,  and  at  once  returned  to  his 
home  in  Union  township,  where  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  farming.  He  is  to-day  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres. 
of  good  land,  all  of  which  is  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  in  the  line  of  general  farming  he  is 
meeting  with  good  success. 

Mr.  Black  has  been  twice  married.  In 
1869  he  wedded  Fanny  Straight,  and  after 


Ii6 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


her  death  he  married  Mrs.  Anna  Moore,  the 
widow  of  WilHam  Moore.  She  was  born  in 
Liberty  township,  Knox  county,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  WilHam  and  EHzabeth  (Houck) 
Woodruff.  Mr.  Black  belongs  to  Leroy 
Baker  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  for  seventeen 
years  has  been  identified  with  Danville 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  has  lived  a  quiet 
life,  devoted  to  agriculture,  but  at  all  times 
Tias  commanded  the  confidence  and  trust  of 
his  fellow  men,  and  his  circle  of  friends  has 
been  extended  as  the  number  of  his  acquaint- 
-ances  has  increased. 


JOHN  J.  BLUBAUGH. 

For  more  than  seventy  years  John  J. 
131ubaugh  has  been  a  resident  of  Knox  coun- 
ty and  has  therefore  witnessed  the  greater 
part  of  its  growth  and  development.  He 
"has  seen  its  wild  lands  transformed  into 
beautiful  homes  and  farms,  while  commer- 
cial and  industrial  enterprises  have  been  es- 
tablished, contributing  to  the  growth  of  vil- 
lage and  city,  and  churches  and  schools 
have  been  buflt  indicating  the  intellectual 
and  moral  status  of  the  community.  In  all 
the  work  of  progress  Mr.  Blubaugh  has 
borne  his  part  and  is  justly  accounted  one 
■of  the  honored  pioneers  of  the  community, 
to  whom  the  county  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude 
for  what  he  accomplished  in  opening  up  this 
region  to  civilization. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Cumberland, 
Maryland,  January  lo,  1828,  and  is  of  Ger- 
man descent,  his  grandfather  having  come 
from  Germany  to  America  and  thus  founded 
the  family  in  the  new  world.  Benjamin 
Blubaugh,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 


born,  reared  and  married  in  Maryland,  wed- 
ding Onora  Logsdon,  and  in  1828  he  came 
with  his  family  to  Knox  county,  locating 
in  Brown  township,  upon  the  farm  now 
owned  by  John  Coleman.  He  built  a  log 
cabin,  made  various  other  improvements, 
and  after  a  number  of  years  sold  the  farm 
to  Samuel  Durbin.  Unto  Benjamin  and 
Onora  Blubaugh  were  born  six  children,  of 
whom  John  J.  was  the  youngest  and  the 
only  son.  He  was  but  seven  months  old 
when  his  mother  died,  she  having  lived  but 
a  few  weeks  after  reaching  this  county,  after 
which  the  father  married  Eliza  Durbin,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living.  In  his  political  views  Ben- 
jamin Blubaugh  was  a  Whig  and  afterward 
a  Democrat,  and  in  his  community  was 
called  to  serve  in  several  local  offices.  He 
held  membership  in  St.  Luke's  Catholic 
church  at  Danville,  and  died  in  that  faith 
wlicn  about  eighty-eight  years  of  age,  his 
last  days  being  spent  in  the  home  of  our 
subject.  He  was  a  stone  mason  by  occupa- 
tion, and  helped  lay  the  foundation  for  the 
old  St.  Luke's  church. 

John  J.  Blubaugh  was  only  six  months 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to^  Knox 
county,  and  here  amid  the  wild  scenes  of 
frontier  life  he  was  reared,  pursuing  his  ed- 
ucation in  a  log  schoolhouse,  which  was 
heated  by  an  immense  fireplace  and  lighted 
by  greased  paper  windows.  The  other  fur- 
nishings were  equally  crude  and  the  instruc- 
tion was  somewhat  primitive  in  character. 
His  training  at  farm  work,  however,  was  not 
meager,  and  he  assisted  his  father  until  he 
had  attained  his  majority,  when  he  started 
out  upon  an  independent  business  career, 
being  employed  for  two  years  by  the  day  or 
by  the  job  at  hard   farm  work,   clearing, 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


117 


grubbing,  making  rails  and  cradling  in  the 
harvest  field. 

In  1852  as  a  companion  and  helpmate 
for  life's  journey  he  chose  Miss  Mary  Dial, 
a  native  of  this  county  and  a  representative 
of  one  of  its  honored  pioneer  families.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Rebecca  (Ar- 
nold) Dial.  They  began  their  domestic  life 
in  Brown  township,  Mr.  Blubaugh  building 
a  house  upon  part  of  his  father's  land  and 
about  forty-five  years  ago  they  came  to  their 
home  in  Jefferson  township,  where  they 
have  since  lived.  Here  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  the  midst 
of  the  forest.  Not  a  tree  had  been  cut  upon 
the  place,  but  with  characteristic  energy  he 
began  to  clear  the  farm,  and  soon  the  wood- 
man's ax  awakened  the  echoes  of  the  forest. 
As  the  trees  were  hewn  down  and  the  brush 
cleared  away  he  began  plowing  and  planting, 
and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  had  a  well 
developed  farm.  When  the  first  home  which 
he  built  was  destroyed  by  fire,  he  immedi- 
ately erected  another  one  and  added  other 
modern  improvements,  while  his  successful 
cultivation  of  the  fields  brought  to  him  a 
comfortable  competence. 

Unto  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Blubaugh  were  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom  three  sons  and  four 
daughters  are  now  living:  Maria,  the  wife 
of  James  wSmith,  of  Jefferson  township; 
Jane,  deceased ;  James  A. ;  Basil ;  Ellen,  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Fritz,  of  Loudonville,  Ash- 
land county;  Isabel,  who  has  also  passed 
away;  William.  S. ;  Ida,  wife  of  Joseph  Har- 
lett;  Victoria,  wife  of  Frank  Sapp;  Agnes, 
deceased ;  and  Margaret  T.,  who'  died  when 
about  two  months  old.  James  A.  Blubaugh, 
who  operates  the  home  farm,  married  Sarah 
Agnes  Hess  and  has  nine  children :     Anna, 


Rosa,  Cosmos,  Bernard,  Julius,  John,  Ag- 
nes, Monica  and  Samuel. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Blubaugh  was 
first  a  Whig,  and  in  i860  he  voted  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  but  since  that  time  has 
adhered  to  the  principles  of  the  Democracy, 
save  in  local  affairs,  when  he  votes  inde- 
pendently. He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  St.  Luke's  Catholic  church  in  Danville, 
which  he  liberally  assisted  in  building,  and 
much  of  the  brown  stone  used  in  its  con- 
struction came  from  his  farm,  and  which 
he  and  his  sons,  James  A.  and  William  Sher- 
man, quarried  and  donated.  He  also'  do- 
nated a  memorial  window  as  well  as  one  of 
the  stations.  His  life  has  been  one  of  un- 
faltering industry,  in  which  earnest  labor 
and  honesty  in  all  business  transactions  has. 
brought  to  him  success. 


MICHAEL  KAYLOR. 

The  career  of  Michael  Kaylor  has  been  a 
successful  one  and  entirely  through  his  own 
efforts,  as  the  result  of  his  industry,  perse- 
verance and  capable  control  of  his  affairs, 
he  became  one  of  the  most  extensive  land 
owners  of  the  county.  His  home  is  now  on 
section  9,  Jefferson  township,  and  there  he 
is  passing  the  evening  of  life  quietly,  for  he 
can  look  back  over  the  past  without  regret 
and  forward  to  the  future  confident  that  all 
will  be  well. 

Mr.  Kaylor  was  born  December  20, 
1 8 18,  in  Alsace,  France — a  province  now 
belonging  to  Germany — and  was  ten  years 
of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  emigration  to  New  York  city,  where 


ii8 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


they  landed  on  the  completion  of  an  ocean 
voyage  that  was  made  in  a  sailing  vessel. 
They  took  up  their  abode  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  where  they  remained  seven 
years,  and  then  came  to  Ohio,  settling  first 
in  Holmes  county.  It  was  there  that  Michael 
Kaylor  was  united  in  marriage,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  years,  to  Elizabeth  Wander, 
and  in  Holmes  county  they  began  their  do- 
mestic life,  there  remaining  for  seven  years. 
When  he  attained  his  majority  his  father 
gave  him  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars, 
which  was  all  the  help  he  had  in  starting  out 
in  the  world.  Taking  this  sum  to  Zanes- 
ville,  he  entered  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  along  the  east  line  of  Knox 
county  and  gave  a  man  an  eight-year  lease 
of  the  property,  in  return  for  which  the  man 
w'as  to  clear  forty  acres  of  the  land.  On 
coming  to  this  county  Mr.  Kaylor  took  up 
his  abode  in  Jefferson  township  and  pur- 
chased the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives 
of  Arthur  Greer.  Here  he  has  since  re- 
mained, and  through  a  long  period  devoted 
Tiis  energies  to  the  cultivation  of  crops, 
whereby  he  gained  a  very  desirable  com- 
petence. As  his  financial  resources  increased 
he  added  to  his  original  place  of  oiie  hundred 
and  sixty-five  acres,  and  eventually  became 
the  owner  of  seven  hundred  and  six  acres. 
He  has  since  given  a  good  farm  to  each  of 
his  sons,  also  one  to  a  daughter  and  an 
equivalent  in  money  to  another  daughter,  so 
that  his  children  have  been  well  provided 
for  by  a  considerate  father. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kaylor  have  been 
born  ten  children :  Sarah,  the  widow  of 
Samuel  Brown ;  George,  of  Morrow  county, 
Ohio;  Mary,  deceased;  Benjamin,  of  Jef- 
ferson township;  William,  who  is  at  home 
with  his  father;  Philip,  of  Jefferson  town- 


ship; Simon,  at  the  old  homestead;  Charles 
M.,  of  Jefiferson  township;  and  a  son  and 
daughter  who  died  in  infancy.  The  mother 
died  in  1894,  after  a  long  and  happy  mar- 
ried life.  The  homestead  is  now  conducted 
by  William  Kaylor,  whose  wife  was  Ida 
LeFevre,  and  has  four  living  children: 
Elfie  E.,  Elmer  J.,  Ethel  E.  and  Edwin  M. 
Mr.  Kaylor  still  holds  a  life  lease  upon 
the  old  homestead,  which  is  the  visible  evi- 
dence of  his  active  and  useful  career.  His 
example  is  certainly  well  worthy  of  emula- 
tion, demonstrating  what  can  be  accom- 
plished by  strong  purpose  and  untiring  labor. 
In  politics  he  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  but 
for  many  years  has  been  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican. He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  but  has  long  been  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  \A'esleyan  Methodist 
church  at  Greersville,  and  as  an  honored 
pioneer,  an  upright  business  man,  a  consid- 
erate husband  and  father  and  a  sincere  Chris- 
tian gentleman  he  well  deserves  mention  in 
the  history  of  the  county  which  has  been 
his  home  for  so  manv  vears. 


ABRAHAM  PARSONS.  M.  D. 

Dr.  Abraham  Parsons,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing physicians,  is  descended  from  an  old  and 
highly  respected  family  in  the  Old  Dominion. 
They  trace  their  ancestry  in  that  state  to 
Baldwin  Parsons,  the  great-great-grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,  who  was  born  there  at 
about  the  time  the  state  first  became  settled. 
His  son,  Jonathan  Parsons,  was  a  native  of 
that  commonwealth,  and  became  the  father 
of  Isaac  Parsons,  who  also  claimed  Virginia 
as  the  state  of  his  nativity.    The  latter,  how- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


ever,  became  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  three  times 
married,  his  first  union  being  with  a  Miss 
Hyatt,  by  whom  he  had  six  children.  For 
his  second  wife  he  chose  Rachel  Connor,  and 
six  children  were  also  born  of  that  union, 
while  for  his  third  wife  he  wedded  Miss 
Christian  Darrah.  Three  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter were  born  of  that  union. 

Nathan  Parsons,  the  third  son  of  the 
first  marriage,  was  born  in  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  and  on  the  paternal  side  he  was  de- 
scended from  English  ancestry,  while  on  the 
maternal  side  he  was  of  German  descent. 
He  was  reared  and  received  his  education 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  there  remaining 
imtil  1856,  when  he  located  on  a  farm  near 
Danville,  Union  township,  Knox  county, 
where  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  passing 
away  in  death  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 
For  a  companion  on  the  journey  of  life  he 
chose  INIaria  Workman,  a  native  of  Coshoc- 
ton county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham ^^^;>rkman,  who  was  born  in  the  state 
of  Maryland.  In  a  very  early  day,  how- 
ever, he  removed  with  his  father,  Stephen 
Workman,  also  a  native  of  Maryland,  to 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  where  they  were 
among  the  first  settlers.  Tire  Workman 
family  in  America  is  descended  from  seven 
brothers  who  came  to  this  country  from 
Germany  in  a  very  early  day.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Parsons  were  born  seven  children, 
four  sons  and  three  daughters,  namely : 
Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob,  Edith,  Grace,  Delia 
•and  Ida  J. 

Dr.  Parsons,  the  eldest  child  in  the  above 
family,  was  but  eight  years  of  age  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Knox  county,  and  nearly  his  entire  life  has 


been  passed  in  this  locality,  the  early  educa- 
tional privileges  which  he  enjoyed  being 
those  afforded  by  the  neighborhood  schools. 
He  subsequently  entered  Haysville  Acad- 
emy, in  Ashland  county,  in  which  institu- 
tion he  was  graduated  in  1866,  and  immedi- 
ately afterward  he  entered  upon  the  study 
of  medicine  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr. 
I.  Putnam,  of  Brinkhaven,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1870,  and  in  the 
meantime  he  had  graduated  in  Charity  Hos- 
pital Medical  College,  of  Cleveland.  Thus 
with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  science 
of  the  medical  profession  he  began  practice 
in  Brinkhaven,  where  he  has  even  since  re- 
mained, having  built  up  an  excellent  practice 
and  established  a  reputation  as  an  able  and 
skillful  practitioner. 

May  29,  1869,  the  Doctor  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Salena  Lanning,  a  native 
of  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Israel  and  Susan  (McCoy)  Lanning. 
They  have  four  children, — Lanning;  Gladys, 
wife  of  Dr.  ^V.  E.  Purdy,  a  practicing  physi- 
cian of  Akron,  Ohio,  and  who  has  two  sons, 
Frederick  and  Meriwether;  and  Beryl  and 
Harriet,  at  home.  The  Doctor  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order  at  Danville,  Ohio,  ex- 
emplifying its  beneficent  principles  in  his 
everyday  life. 

Lanning  Parsons,  the  eldest  son  of  our 
honored  subject,  was  born  in  Black  Creek, 
Ohio.  April  24,  1870,  but  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Brinkhaven,  also  attending  Ob- 
erlin  College,  in  which  he  was  a  student  for 
two  years.  In  1892  he  entered  West  Point, 
in  which  he  was  graduated  in  1896,  and  was 
afterward  made  second  lieutenant  of  the 
Ninth  United  States  Cavalry,  serving  at  Fort 
Robinson,  Nebraska,  for  about  two  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  his  regi- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


ment  was  ordered  to  Cuba,  thence  to  Fort 
McPherson,  Georgia,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  drilling  recruits.  He  was  next  stationed 
at  Fort  Apache,  Arizona,  from  1899  '•"''til 
1900,  and  in  the  latter  year  was  sent  to  the 
Philippines,  where  he  remained  until  his 
regiment  was  ordered  home.  On  the  2d  of 
February,  1901,  Lieutenant  Parsons  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  of 
the  Fourth  United  States  Cavalry,  which 
position  he  still  retains,  and  is  now  stationed 
with  his  regiment  at  Fort  Leavenworth, 
Kansas.  In  1897  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bradfield,  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  C.  R.  and  Sarah  (Dunlap)  Bradfield,  of 
Danville,  and  they  have  two  children, — Har- 
riet E.  and  Isabel. 


JOHN  L.  McKINLEY. 

John  L.  McKinley,  one  of  the  well- 
known  and  highly  respected  citizens  of 
Knox  county,  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  February  25,  1848, 
a  son  of  Jackson  and  Elizabeth  (Atkins) 
McKinley.  His  father  was  born  in  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
1 82 1,  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (McDonald) 
McKinley,  both  natives  of  Belfast,  Ireland. 
They  were  married  in  their  native  land,  and 
immediately  thereafter  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  locating  in  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  resumed  the  voca- 
tion of  teaching,  having  devoted  his  energies 
to  that  profession  in  his  native  land,  and 
continuing  in  that  occupation  until  his  sev- 
entieth year. 

Jackson  McKinley,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, spent  his  youth  and  early  manhood  un- 


der the  parental  roof,  during  which  time  he 
received  excellent  advantages,  graduating 
from  college  with  the  honors  of  his  class. 
His  marriage  was  celebrated  in  1850,  and 
shortly  afterward,  leaving  his  wife  in  her 
father's  home  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  lUi- 
nois,  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  for  about 
three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1853  ^^  ^^~ 
turned  to  Jo  Daviess  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  At  the  first  call 
for  volunteers  he  put  aside  all  personal  con- 
siderations and  nobly  offered  his  services  as 
a  defender  of  the  stars  and  stripes.  At  the 
close  of  his  three  months'  term  of  enlist- 
ment he  re-enlisted  in  the  Twenty-first  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  under  General  Grant,  in  which 
he  served  until  hostilities  had  ceased  and  the 
country  no  longer  needed  his  services.  Dur- 
ing his  army  career  he  was  promoted  from 
the  ranks  of  a  private  to  first  duty  sergeant 
of  Company  E.  He  underwent  many  hard- 
ships and  privations  during  his  experience 
as  a  soldier,  having  lost  his  hearing  through 
the  cannonading,  and  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life  he  was  almost  entirely  deaf.  After 
returning  from  the  war  he  found  his  farm 
had  been  sold  and  his  family  had  removed 
to  Jones  county,  Iowa,  in  which  place  he 
soon  joined  them,  and  there  he  remained  un- 
til 1868.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  New- 
ton county,  Missouri,  but  after  a  short  resi- 
dence there  he  sold  his  possessions  and  went 
to  Cass  county,  that  state,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  1887.  He  became  very  promi- 
nent in  the  public  life  of  the  localities  in 
which  he  made  his  home,  and  while  residing 
in  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois,  he  served  for 
two  terms  as  assessor  and  collector,  while 
for  the  same  length  of  time  he  also  served 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


as  county  superintendent  of  public  instruc- 
tion. He  was,  however,  never  an  aspirant 
for  political  honors,  preferring  to  give  his 
time  principally  to  liis  business  duties.  For 
five  years  he  was  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

For  his  wife  ^Ir.  ]\IcKinley  chose  Eliza- 
beth Atkins,  who  was  a  native  of  north- 
eastern Kentucky  and  a  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Hannah  (Ball)  Atkins,  natives  of 
^Maryland  and  of  Welsh  descent.  For  a 
number  of  years  the  father  was  employed  as 
a  boatman  on  the  Ohio  river,  running  from 
Allegheny  City  to  Cairo,  Illinois.  The 
union  of  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  McKinley  was 
blessed  with  eight  children,  five  of  whom  still 
survive,  namely :  John  L.,  the  subject  of 
this  review;  Robert  P.,  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas City ;  Frances,  who  has  been  employed 
as  a  teacher  in  a  high  school  in  Kansas  City 
for  nineteen  years;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Clar- 
ence \\'resler,  who  is  a  merchant  at  Kan- 
sas City ;  and  Alonzo,  cashier  of  the  Santa 
Fe  &  Mexico  Railway  Company.  The 
mother  of  this  family  is  still  living,  and  now 
makes  her  home  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 

John  L.  }tIcKinley,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  remained  in  his  father's 
home  until  his  fifteenth  year,  when  he  be- 
gan to  earn  his  own  living,  and  for  the  fol- 
lowing year  was  employed  by  a  neighboring 
farmer.  When  the  trouble  between  the 
north  and  south  precipitated  the  country  into 
civil  war  our  subject  loyally  ofifered  his  serv- 
ices to  his  country's  cause,  enlisting  in  1863 
in  Company  E.  Seventeenth  Illinois  Cavalry, 
but  before  his  company  left  for  the  field  of 
action  he  was  taken  home  by  his  Grandfa- 
ther Atkins.  But  he  still  persisted  in  becom- 
ing a  soldier  boy,  and  later  he  ran  away  from 
his  home  and  went  to  Galena,  Illinois,  where 


with  a  schoolmate  he  again  enlisted  for 
service.  He  then  returned  to  his  home  to 
gain  the  consent  of  his  parents,  and  on  the 
24th  of  December,  1863,  he  donned  the  blue 
as  a  defender  of  the  starry  banner,  serving 
as  a  true  and  loyal  soldier  until  November 
14,  1865,  when  hostilities  had  ceased.  At 
the  battle  of  Arcada,  Tennessee,  his  horse 
was  shot  under  him  and  he  was  wounded  in 
the  knee.  During  his  military  career  he 
took  part  in  many  hard-fought  battles  and 
skirmishes,  took  part  in  Price's  raid  and  was 
engaged  in  warfare  against  Ouantrell  in 
Missouri. 

Returning  to  his  home  with  a  military 
record  of  which  he  has  every  reason  to  be 
proud,  Mr.  McKinley  then  went  to  Galena, 
Illinois,  but  on  the  21st  of  May,  following, 
he  returned  to  Jones  county,  Iowa.  On  the 
6th  of  May,  1865,  with  a  two-horse  wagon, 
he  started  alone  for  the  Indian  Territory, 
where  he  joined  a  schoolmate  who  was  en- 
gaged in  trading  with  the  Indians,  arriving 
at  the  latter's  place  on  the  9th  of  the  fol- 
lowing June.  On  the  25th  of  that  month  he 
went  to  Humboldt,  Kansas,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  time  with  friends,  and  in  July 
secured  a  position  as  driver  on  the  stage 
line,  his  route  being  from  Humboldt  to  Ot- 
tawa, which  position  he  continued  to  fill  for 
fourteen  months.  From  the  following  Sep- 
tember until  February  he  was  at  Baxter 
Springs,  Kansas,  for  the  next  two  and  a  half 
years  was  engaged  in  driving  cattle  from 
Texas  into  Kansas,  and  in  1870  he  jour- 
neyed to  Denver,  thence  to  Colorado  Springs 
and  Trinidad,  on  to  Bait's  Ranch,  New  Mex- 
ico, Virginia  City,  Montana,  and  next  to 
Montgomery  county,  Kansas,  where  he  se- 
cured a  claim  and  was  also  employed  by  a 
mill  company  receiving  a  dollar  and  a  half 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


per  day.  Mr.  McKinley's  next  employment 
was  as  overseer  of  a  ranch  belonging  to  a 
civil  engineer,  which  occupation  claimed  his 
time  until  1874,  and  in  that  year  he  pur- 
chased a  threshing  outfit  and  continued  its 
operation  for  the  following  two  years,  hav- 
ing operated  the  first  threshing  machine  in 
Montgomery  county,  Kansas.  The  year 
1876  witnessed  his' arrival  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  in 
Howard  township  until  the  spring  of  1889, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  su- 
perintendent of  the  county  infirmary,  con- 
tinuing to  fill  that  oflice  for  ten  consecutive 
years,  when  he  resigned,  but  in  the  following 
year  he  was  reappointed,  and  is  the  present 
incumbent. 

In  Montgomery  county,  Kansas,  Mr. 
McKinley  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Barbara  Workman,  a  native  of  Knox  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Amos  Work- 
man, a  prominent  farmer  of  Howard  town- 
ship. He  came  to  the  Buckeye  state  from 
Maryland,  and  was  among  the  very  early 
pioneers,  his  death  here  occurring.  Tlie 
union  of  our  subject  and  wife  has  been 
blessed  with  one  child,  Clinton,  who  is  now 
a  prominent  farmer  of  Liberty  township. 
They  have  also  reared  an  adopted  daughter 
from  the  age  of  three  months,  Miss  Maud 
McKinley.  Mr.  McKinley  exercises  his 
right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  meri  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  and  for 
three  terms  he  served  as  trustee  of  his  town- 
ship. Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Danville 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Sycamore  Valley  Lodge, 
I.  O.  O.  F. :  and  Joe  Hooker  Post,  G.  A.  R. 
In  manner  he  is  courteous  and  genial,  and 
among  the  people  with  whom  he  has  been 
so  long  connected  he  is  very  popular. 


JOSEPH  C.  BROWN. 

As  a  young  man  this  gentleman  came 
to  America,  and  without  capital  started  out 
in  a  strange  land  to  overcome  the  difficulties 
and  obstacles  in  the  path  to  prosperity.  His 
youthful  dreams  have  been  realized,  and  in 
their  happy  fulfillment  he  sees  the  fitting  re- 
ward of  his  earnest  toil.  He  is  now  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  and  successful 
agriculturists  of  Knox  county. 

Mr.  Brown  was  born  in  county  Cork, 
Ireland,  on  the  15th  of  November,  183 1,  and 
was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native  land. 
In  1856,  in  company  with  his  parents,  he 
left  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  on  a  sailing 
vessel  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  tO'  the  new 
world,  spending  thirty-nine  days  on  the  voy- 
age. After  their  arrival  here  the  family  lo- 
cated in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  where  our 
subject  was  engaged  at  farm  labor  by  the 
month  for  the  following  six  years.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  located  in  Col- 
lege township,  Knox  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased twenty  acres  of  land  and  immedi- 
ately set  about  the  task  of  making  a  home. 
He  cleared  and  improved  his  land,  and 
thereon  erected  a  small  log  cabin,  but  in  1865 
he  sold  that  place  and  purchased  fifty-eight 
acres  of  partially  improved  land  in  Pleasant 
township,  remaining  there  until  1894.  In 
that  year  he  came  to  his  present  homestead, 
which  consists  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  under  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation,  improved  with  good 
and  substantial  buildings  and  everything 
about  the  place  indicates  the  care  and  super- 
vision of  a  practical  and  progressive  owner. 
The  marriage  oi  Mr.  Brown  was  celebrated 
on  the  31st  of  March,    1861,   when   Maj-y 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


Clark  became  his  wife.  Seven  children  have 
brightened  and  blessed  their  home,  namely : 
Mary  E.,  v\'ho  is  still  with  her  parents ; 
Martha  J.,  the  wife  of  John  R.  Seymour,  of 
Mcnroe  township,  Knox  county;  John  T., 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Brown  Brothers, 
prominent  liverymen  of  Gambler;  Clark  G., 
who  is  engaged  in  business  with  his  brother 
John;  Margaret  C,  deceased;  Alice,  who  is 
conducting  a  millinery  store  in  Mount  Ver- 
non ;  and  Joseph  H,,  at  home.  The  Democ- 
racy receives  Mr.  Brown's  hearty  support 
snd  co-operation,  and  religiously  he  is  a 
member  of  tJ^e  Episcopal  church.  His  course 
in  life  has  ever  been  such  as  to  command  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  come  in  contact,  and  he  justly  merits 
the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held  by  his 
fellow  men. 


PERRY  ROOF. 


One  of  the  boys  in  blue  of  the  Civil  war 
and  at  all  times  a  loyal  citizen,  true  to  the 
interests  of  county,  state  and  nation.  Perry 
Roof  is  numbered  among  the  representative 
farmers  of  Knox  county.  The  Roof  family 
was  one  of  the  first  founded  in  this  locality, 
and  its  members  took  an  active  part  in  its 
development  through  the  pioneer  epoch  in 
its  history.  Our  subject's  grandfather, 
Jacob  Roof,  was  a  native  of  the  Old  Do- 
n^inion,  but  in  a  very  early  day  he  came  to 
Knox  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Union  township.  He 
was  of  German  descent. 

Jacob  Roof,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Rocking'ham  county,  Vir- 
ginia. When  a  young  man  he  left  the  place 
of  his   nativitv   and   came   to   the   Buckeye 


state,  locating  at  Danville,  Knox  county. 
Shortly  afterward  he  entered  the  land  on 
which  our  subject  now  resides,  which  was 
then  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  timber, 
but  he  immediately  began  the  arduous  task 
of  clearing  his  place,  erected  a  small  log 
cabin,  and  soon  his  fields  were  made  to  pro- 
duce abundant  harvests.  He  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  on  this  farm,  passing 
away  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  In 
political  matters  he  was  first  a  Whig,  but 
after  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  joined  its  ranks  and  was  ever  after- 
ward a  loyal  supporter  of  its  principles.  Mr. 
Roof  was  married  at  Danville,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Mary  Baker,  who'  was  born  in  the  Keystone 
state,  but  she,  too,  was  numbered  among 
the  early  pioneers  of  Knox  county,  whither 
her  parents  removed  when  she  was  a  small 
child.  She  reached  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years.  This  worthy  couple  became  the  par- 
ents of  ten'  children,  seven  of  whom  grew 
to  years  of  maturity,  and  Mr.  Roof,  of  this 
review,  was  the  seventh  child  in  order  of 
birth. 

During  his  boyhood  days  he  attended  the 
log  school  house  near  his  home,  and  in  early 
years  he  was  also  taught  the  value  of  indus- 
try and  honesty  as  a  preparation  for  the 
active  duties  of  life.  When  the  trouble  be- 
tween the  north  and  the  south  threw  the 
country  into  civil  war  Mr,  Roof  nobly  put 
aside  all  personal  considerations  and  ofifered 
his  services  as  a  defender  of  the  starry  baia- 
ner,  enlisting  in  Company  E,  Sixty-fifth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  October,  1862. 
During  his  military  career  he  took  part  in 
many  of  the  hard-fought  battles  of  the  war, 
including  that  of  Murfreesboro,  and  during 
that  t'me  he  was  never  seriously  wounded. 
Receiving  his  discharge  at  Hillsboro,  Ten- 


124 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


nessee,  he  returned  to  his  liome  with  an  hon- 
orable mihtary  record,  and  at  once  took  up 
tlte  quiet  pursuits  of  the  farm.  He  has 
spent  his  entire  hfe  upon  the  old  homestead 
which  his  father  entered,  and  the  place  now 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  all 
of  which  is  under  an  excellent  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  contains  all  the  accessories  and 
improvements  necessary  for  a  well  regulated 
farm.  Mr.  Roof's  social  relations  connect 
him  with  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and 
with  Leroy  Baker  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Dan- 
ville, in  which  he  maintains  pleasant  rela- 
tions with  his  old  army  comrades  of  the  blue. 


ISAAC  EARLYWINE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  of  that 
sterling  old  Pennsylvania  stock,  w^iich  in 
every  state  in  the  Lhiion  has  made  for  edu- 
cation, commercial  and  financial  advance- 
ment. Adam  Earlywine,  his  father,  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  state,  married  Susan  Wolfe, 
also  of  Pennsylvania  nativity,  and  she  bore 
him  eight  children.  Not  long  after  their 
marriage  they  came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
and  located  in  Jackson  township  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  their  son,  Isaac  Earlywine, 
and  on  which  he  was  born  August  5,  1818. 
The  elder  Earlywine  cleared  land  and  put  it 
under  cultivation  and  improved  it  until  it 
was  a  profitable  agricultural  property.  He 
served  his  country  as  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812  and  was  a  man  of  influence  in  the 
community,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  com- 
municants of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Isaac  Earlywine  early  became  familiar 
with  all  the  details  of  clearing  and  improv- 
ing land  and  carrying  on  successful  farm- 


ing, and  during  all  his  younger  years  w^as  a 
valuable  assistant  to  his  father.  In  1840 
he  married  Miss  Lizzie  Nichols,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Susan  (Hendricks)  Nichols, 
who  were  natives  of  he  Old  Dominion  and 
were  well-to-do  farmers.  Mr.  Nichols  was 
also  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  wife 
bore  him  eight  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Ear- 
lywine was  the  second  in  order  of  nativity. 
By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Nichols,  who 
was  brought  toi  Knox  county  when  she  was 
nine  years  old,  Mr.  Earlywine  has  had  four 
children,  who  were  named  as  follows  in  the 
order  of  their  birth  :  Susan  M.,  Lizzie  Ann, 
Thomas  J.  and  Mary  D.,  but  the  last  men- 
tioned is  now  deceased.  Susan  M.  is  the 
wife  of  Robert  Voost,  of  Harrison  town- 
ship; Lizzie  A.  is  the  wife  of  Jackson  Mc- 
Cament,  of  Clay  county ;  and  Thomas  J. 
married  Mary  Hallabaugh,  and  operates  the 
old  farm. 

Politically  Mr.  Earlywine  is  a  Democrat 
and  he  wields  considerable  influence  in  his 
township,  which  he  served  as  township  trus- 
tee five  years.  He  has  also  been  entrusted 
with  other  public  responsibilities,  and  in  his 
capacity  as  private  counsellor  is  frequently 
called  upon  to  give  advice  in  much  business 
of  importance.  He  is  a  progressive  man  and 
a  friend  to  public  education,  and  his  fellow 
citizens  have  come  to  know  that  his  public 
spirit  is  equal  to  all  reasonable  demands 
upon  it. 


JOSEPH  CRITCHFIELD. 

Joseph  Critchfield,  the  efficient  and  pop- 
ular postmaster  of  Howard,  is  one  of  the 
leading  and  representative  citizens  of  his  lo- 
cality.    He  was  born  in  Howard  township. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


125 


Knox  county,  Ohio,  on  the  nth  of  October, 
1838,  a  son  of  Lewis  Critchfield,  also  a  na- 
tive of  this  county.  The  '\la;tter's  father, 
Joseph  Critchfield,  claimed  Pennsylvania  as 
the  state  of  his  nativity,  and  after  his  mar- 
riage he  and  his  wife  made  the  journey  from 
that  state  to  Ohio  on  horseback,  locating  in 
the  dense  woods  of  Howard  township,  Knox 
county.  They  made  their  home  for  many 
years  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Daniel 
McGuigan,  Jr.,  and  Mr.  Critchfield  was  sub- 
sequently killed  by  a  horse.  His  son,  Lewis 
C,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  reared  to 
years  of  maturity  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
upon  taking  up  the  active  duties  of  life  on 
his  own  account  he  chose  the  occupation  to 
which  he  had  been  reared,  and  throughout 
his  active  buginess  career  he  followed  the 
tilling  of  the  soil  in  Knox  county.  His  life's 
labors  were  ended  in  death  when  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  In 
early  life  he  gave  his  political  support  to  the 
Whig  party,  but  after  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party  he  joined  its  ranks  and 
was  ever  afterward  a  loyal  supporter  of  its 
principles.  He  held  membership  in  the 
Christian  church,  in  which  he  took  an  active 
and  helpful  interest,  having  greatly  assisted 
in  the  organization  of  the  church  at  Mil- 
wood,  and  for  many  years  he  was  an  officer 
therein.  For  his  wife  he  chose  Mary  J. 
Dawson,  who  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  but  when  a  young 
lady  she  accompanied  her  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  her 
death  occurred  when  she  had  reached  the 
age  of  sixty-six  years.  Her  father.  Dr. 
John  Dawson,  followed  the  tilling  of  the 
soil  in  the  Keystone  state  and  was  also  a 
physician  by  profession,  following  both  oc- 
cupations after  his  removal  to  Howard  town- 


ship. The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Critch- 
field was  blessed  with  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, of  which  our  subject  was  the  eldest 
in  order  of  birth.  Two  of  the  number  died 
in  infancy,  and  a  son,  John  Dawson  Critch- 
field, who  was  a  prominent  attorney  of 
Mount  Vernon,  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
in  1900.  The  two  surviving  daughters  are: 
Lienor,  the  wife  of  Matthew  Welsh,  of 
Howard ;  and  Mary  ].,  the  wife  of  J.  Thorn- 
ton Whitworth,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Mon- 
roe Mills. 

Joseph  Critchfield,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  the  educational 
privileges  which  he  enjoyed  in  his  youth 
were  those  afforded  by  the  log  school  house 
of  his  neighborhood.  In  October,  1861,  in 
response  to  his  country's  call  for  aid,  he  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  Company  A,  Sixty- 
fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  in  Jan- 
uary, 1863,  he  was  made  a  musician  of  his 
regiment,  serving  in  that  position  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  His  military  career  cov- 
ered a  period  of  four  years,  two  months  and 
eighteen  days,  and  during  that  time  he  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth, 
Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Missionary 
Ridge  and  many  others  equally  important. 
On  the  1st  of  January,  1864,  he  veteranized 
at  Blain's  Cross  Roads,  in  East  Tennessee, 
and  on  the  following  March  he  received  a 
thirty  days  furlough,  but  during  his  stay  at 
home  he  was  sick  with  the  measles.  Re- 
joining his  command  on  the  5th  of  April,  he 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Jonesborough, 
Spring  Hill,  Franklin,  and  in  all  the  battles 
of  the  Atlanta  campaign.  During  his  entire 
career  as  a  soldier  he  was  never  wounded  or 
captured,  but  he  suffered  greatly  from  sick- 
ness, and  at  the  close  of  hostilities,  on  the 


126 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


26th  of  December,  1865,  he  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge  at  Cokimbus,  Ohio,  retiring 
from  the  service  with  the  rank  of  first  Heu- 
tenant. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Knox  county, 
Mr.  Critchfield  v>as  for  a  time  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  with  his  father-in-law, 
Jonathan  Hammond,  which  relationship  was 
maintained  for  seven  years,  on  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  our  subject  sold  his 
interest  to  his  partner  and  for  the  following 
nine  years  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Union 
township.  He  then  took  up  his  abode  in  Lan- 
caster, Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  October,  1883,  when  he 
came  to  Howard  and  again  turned  his  at- 
tention to  mercantile  pursuits,  in  partner- 
ship with  Eli  Wolfe,  thus  continuing  for 
about  ten  years.  Mr.  Critchfield  then  sold 
his  interest  to  his  partner,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  engaged  in  superintending  his 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  acres 
in  Howard  township,  located  one  and  a  half 
miles  southeast  of  the  village  of  Howard. 

In  1864,  during  his  absence  from  the 
army  on  his  thirty  days'  furlough,  our  sub- 
ject was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  E. 
Hammond,  who  was  born  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah 
(Lybarger)  Hammond.  Two  daughters 
have  been  born  unto  this  union, — Lulu,  the 
wife  of  George  A.  Cheney,  station  agent  for 
the  Chicago,  Akron  &  Columbus  Railroad 
at  Mount  Vernon;  and  Keturah,  the  wife  of 
Charles  Cheney,  who  is  engaged  in  the  livery 
business  in  Danville,  Ohio.  The  Repub- 
lican party  receives  Mr.  Critchfield's  active 
support  and  co-operation,  and  during  Presi- 
dent Harrison's  administration  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  office  of  postmaster  of  How- 
ard and  was  reappointed  in  1901,  by  Presi- 


dent McKinley.  In  LeRoy  Baker  Post,  G. 
A.  R.,  he  maintains  pleasant  relations  with 
his  old  army  comrades,  and  of  the  Methodist 
'Episcopal  church  he  is  «  worthy  and  hon- 
ored member. 


JUDSON  ROBERT  DRAKE. 

The  efforts  that  lead  to  success  have  been 
manifest  in  the  business  career  of  J.  R. 
Drake,  who  is  an  enterprising  farmer  in 
Howard  township.  He  was  born  in  this 
township  October  20,  1867.  His  grandfa- 
ther. Dr.  George  Drake,  came  to  Knox  coun- 
ty in  1847,  and  here  devoted  his  energies  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  Smith  Drake,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  year 
1847  took  up  his  abode  in  Howard  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  upon  the  farm  where  his 
son,  J.  R.  Drake,  now  resides.  He  erected 
one  of  the  first  sawmills  in  the  township  and 
furnished  much  of  the  lumber  used  in  build- 
ing bridges  in  the  early  days.  Throughout 
his  entire  Hfe  he  conducted  a  sawmill,  and 
his  business  record  was  one  of  strict  hon- 
esty and  fair  dealing.  In  his  political  views 
he  was  a  Republican  and  religiously  was  con- 
nected with  the  Jelloway  Christian  church, 
taking  an  active  part  in  its  work.  He  held 
a  number  of  offices  in  the  church,  contribut- 
ing generously  to  its  support  and  did  all  in 
his  power  for  the  cause  of  Christianity.  He 
married  Florence  McNutt,  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  McNutt,  who  was  also'  born 
in  the  Keystone  state  and  died  in  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  about  1883.  The  father  of 
our  subject  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


127 


and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  six- 
ty-seven. They  had  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  aU  of  whom  reached  mature 
years. 

J.  R.  Drake  is  the  fifth  member  and  sec- 
ond son  in  the  family.  His  childhood  days 
were  passed  upon  the  farm,  and  in  the  prim- 
itive schools  of  the  neighborhood  he  pursued 
his  education,  which  was  supplemented  by 
study  in  the  Danville  high  school  and  by 
one  year's  course  in  Hiram  College.  Much 
of  his  life  has  been  devoted  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  for  four  years  he  was  associ- 
ated with  Barbar  &  Company,  wholesale 
grocers  of  Mount  Vernon.  He  remained  in 
the  house  for  three  years  and  then 
went  upon  the  road  as  a  traveling  salesman, 
continuing  in  that  service  for  one  year. 
With  this  exception  he  has  always  followed 
farming,  and  to-day  he  is  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  rich  and 
arable  and  well  improved,  and  which  was  a 
part  of  the  Drake  homestead.  He  also  has 
other  business  interests,  being-  part  owner  in 
a  grocery  store  at  Zuch  and  also  in  the  Zuch 
flouring  mill.  He  possesses  excellent  busi- 
ness ability,  strong  judgment  and  keen  dis- 
crimination, and  his  untiring  industry,  sup- 
plemented by  the  qualities  just  mentioned, 
have  made  him  quite  successful. 

March  3,  1892,  occurred  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Drake  and  Miss  Bertha  Johnson,  a  na- 
tive of  Pike  township,  Knox  county.  Her 
parents,  Marshall  and  Mary  Johnson,  died 
when  she  was  about  a  year  old,  and  she  was 
then  reared  by  her  grandparents,  B.  C.  and 
Esther  (Pealer)  Harris.  The  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drake  has  been  blessed  with 
one  son,  Gordon.  Our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  a  wide  acquaintance  in  the  county  and 
enjoy  the  high  regard  of  many  friends.     He 


is  a  stalwart  Republican,  unswerving  in  his 
advocacy  of  the  principles  of  the  party  and 
at  one  time  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Howard  township.  He  is  an  exemplary 
member  of  Mount  Zion  Lodge,  No.  9,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Mount  Vernon,  is  also  identified 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
belongs  to  the  Christian  church  of  Jello- 
way.  His  salient  characteristics  afe  his  en- 
ergy and  straightforward  methods  in  busi- 
ness, his  co-operation  with  all  measures 
which  he  believes  of  public  benefit,  his  loy- 
alty in  citizenship  and  his  fidelity  to  every 
duty. 


BENJAMIN  SMITH. 

The  late  lamented  citizen  of  Morgan 
tcAvnship,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  whose  hon- 
ored name  appears  above,  has  a  place  in  his- 
tory as  the  man  who  entered  the  last  one- 
hundred-and-twenty-five-acre  tract  of  gov- 
ernment land  in  that  township,  and  as  one 
who  lived  longer  within  the  borders  of  the 
township  than  any  other  of  its  citizens. 

Benjamin  Smith,  son  of  James  Harring- 
ton and  Martha  (Davis)  Smith,  was  born 
in  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  27, 
1807,  and  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  181 1.  Such  educa- 
tion as  was  available  to  him  he  acquired  near 
his  home  in  an  old  log  school  house  with  slab, 
seats  and  benches,  and  a  big  fireplace  and 
greased-paper  windows,  and  entirely  desti- 
tute of  anything  like  a  floor.  He  was 
brought  up  toi  farming  and  lived  in  the 
township  continuously  from  181 1  until  his 
death,  March  9,  1900,  during  the  long  period 
of  eighty-nine  years.  He  improved  his  farm 
and  added  to  its  acreage  until  it  comprised 


128 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres.  In  early 
life  he  was  a  Whig  and  later  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  was  influential  in  local  af- 
fairs, and  was  frequently  called  to  places  of 
trust  and  responsibility,  though  he  was  in 
no  sense  an  office-seeker.  He  was  a  devout 
and  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
always  generously  helpful  to  its  various  in- 
terests. 

Mr.  Smith  married  Sarah  Brown  Jan- 
uary ly,  1833.  INIrs.  Smith,  who  was  born 
in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  March  4, 
1809,  bore  her  husband  two  daughters: 
Martha  Jane,  who  was  born  March  31,  1834, 
and  died  unmarried  in  1855 ;  and  Sarah 
Ann,  who  was  born  October  19,  1836,  on 
the  farm  on  which  she  now  lives  and  which 
she  successfully  manages. 


HON.  ANTHONY  BANNING. 

In  pioneer  days  Anthony  Banning  came 
to  Ohio  and  was  actively  identified  with  the 
development  and  improvement  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state  when  it  was  a  frontier 
region.  He  was  associated  with  agricultural 
and  industrial  interests  and  was  also  active 
in  promoting  the  intellectual  and  moral 
growth  of  the  community.  He  was  born  in 
Talbott  cotinty,  Maryland,  May  13,  1768, 
and  his  full  name  was  James  Mansfield 
Anthony  Banning.  He  was  the  only  son 
of  James  Banning,  a  landed  proprietor  of 
large  influence  in  that  locality.  The  only 
sister  oi  our  subject  became  the  wife  of 
Benjamin  Chew,  a  most  intimate  friend  and 
associate  of  George  Washington.  He  be- 
came chief  justice  of  the  state  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  resided  in  Philadelphia. 


When  our  subject  was  quite  young  his 
father  died,  and  his  uncle,  Henry  Banning, 
a  sea  captain,  became  his  guardian.  He 
took  him  on  several  sea  voyages  and  pro- 
vided him  with  good  educational  privileges, 
intending  him  for  the  priesthood,  for  the 
family  were  Catholics,  but  in  his  fourteenth 
year  Anthony  Banning  left  the  church  of 
his  fathers  and  joined  the  Methodist  church, 
a  course  which  cut  him  off  from  his  own 
people,  who  regarded  him  as  lost  on  account 
of  his  abandonment  of  the  Romish  church. 
However,  a  long  life  of  usefulness  lay  before 
him,  and  he  accomplished  great  good  in  the 
world.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  began 
preaching  as  a  circuit  rider  in  Greenbriar 
county  and  the  mountainous  districts  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  his  zeal  and  earnestness  in  pre- 
senting the  cause  of  Christianity  gained  to 
his  Master's  cause  many  followers. 

Mr.  Banning  was  married,  July  30, 
1 79 1,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Pierce,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  Murphy,  who  became  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Redstone,  Pennsylvania,  near 
Uniontown.  She  was  born  on  the  eastern 
shore  of  Maryland  and  was  reared  near  El- 
licotts  Mills,  that  state.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ban- 
ning became  the  parents  of  eight  children. 
Sarah  married  Daniel  S.  Norton,  and  re- 
sided in  Knox  county.  Jacob  M.  wedded 
Miss  Sophia  Zimmerman,  daughter  of  Gott- 
lieb Zimmerman,  of  Mount  Vernon.  With 
her  children  she  removed  to  Hardin  county, 
and  one  of  her  family  is  no>v  in  Los  Ange- 
les, California.  Rachel  became  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Elnathan  Raymond  and  their  daughter, 
Mrs.  George  K.  Norton,  is  living  in  Mount 
Vernon.  James  S.  has  a  son  who  is  repre- 
sented on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mary 
became  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Caswell.  Betsy 
married  a  Mr.  Bronson,  of  Mount  Vernon. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


129 


Priscilla.  who  was  born  May  i,  1801,  was 
married  to  Sewell  Gray,  of  Massachusetts, 
whose  birth  occurred  April  9,  1806.  He 
died  at  Mount  Vernon  in  May,  1862,  and  her 
death  occurred  in  1891.  Anthony  Banning, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  married  Jane 
Dudley,  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  William  B.  and  Frank  Banning  and 
Mrs.  Errett,  of  Mount  Vernon. 

In  1 79 1  Anthony  Banning  was  ordained 
to  the  Methodist  ministry  by  Bishop  Asbury. 
While  residing  in  Pennsylvania,  near  Mount 
Braddock  and  Connelsville,  he  engaged  in 
preaching  in  those  places,  also  conducted 
a  tan  yard  and  a  general  store.  He  like- 
wise served  as  justice  of  the  peace  from 
1 79 1  until  1799,  and  was  a  prominent  fac- 
tor in  the  business,  political  and  moral  life 
of  the  community.  Between  1808  and  1812 
he  made  several  trips  up  the  Muskingtmi 
river  with  goods,  and  on  some  of  these  trips 
purchased  land  in  Knox  county,  whither  he 
removed  in  1812.  He  traded  tanned  leather 
and  saddlery  goods  to  Samuel  Kratzer  for 
an  interest  in  the  site  of  Mount  Vernon,  and 
during  the  long  period  of  his  residence  in 
this  city  he  engaged  in  many  pursuits,  pros- 
pering in  all,  for  he  was  a  man  of  marked 
enterprise,  determination  and  business  abil- 
ity. He  conducted  general  stores  at  Mount 
Vernon,  Tymochtree  and  Danville,  and  was 
the  proprietor  of  a  mill  at  Clinton,  also  con- 
ducted a  tan  yard  and  extensively  engaged  in 
farming.  Though  his  business  pursuits 
were  so  extensive  and  varied  he  yet  found 
time  to  devote  to  his  Christian  work,  and 
was  much  of  the  time  engaged  in  preaching 
on  Sundays  and  at  all  times  exerted  his  in- 
fluence, which  was  strongly  felt  in  behalf  of 
the  moral  advancement  of  the  community  in 
which  he  made  his  home.    His  political  sup- 


port was  given  the  Whig  party,  and  he 
served  as  associate  justice  of  the  county  from 
1827  until  1834.  He  was  active  in  every 
movement  for  the  benefit  of  the  county  and 
town,  and  was  the  promoter  of  many  meas- 
ures for  the  general  good.  He  built  a  church 
upon  his  own  land  just  at  the  time  Bishop 
Purcell  was  denied  the  use  of  all  the  otlier 
churches,  whereon  Mr.  Banning  placed  his 
at  the  disposal  of  the  Catholics,  and  the  first 
Catholic  sermon  delivered  in  Mount  Vernon 
was  in  the  Banning  church,  as  it  was  called. 
He  held  to  his  own  religious  views  tenaci- 
ously, but  accorded  to  others  the  same  priv- 
ilege. In  the  month  of  February,  1844, 
Judge  Banning  was  accidentally  drowned 
while  crossing  the  ice  west  of  Mount  Ver- 
non while  going  to  his  farm.  He  was  hon- 
est and  conscientious,  resolute  yet  liberal, 
and  was  most  kind-hearted  and  generous. 
Knox  county  profited  by  his  citizenship,  and 
the  world  is  better  for  his  having  lived. 


ELISHA  WORKMAN. 

Many  are  the  representative  farmers  of 
Knox  county  who  have  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  this  portion  of  the  state,  a  fact  which 
indicates  unmistakably  the  excellence  of  the 
country  and  the  advantages  offered  to  its 
citizens.  Among  this  number  is  Mr.  Work- 
man, who  was  born  in  Brown  township, 
December  17,  1849,  being  the  fourth  son  and 
sixth  child  of  the  Rev.  John  J.  and  Lucretia 
(De  Witt)  Workman.  His  childhood  and 
youth  were  passed  upon  the  home  farm,  and 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  af- 
forded him  his  educational  privileges. 
Through  the  summer  months  he  worked  in 


[30 


A    CENTEXXIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


the  fields  and  thus  became  familiar  with 
farm  labor  in  all  of  its  departments.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  his  marriage, 
which  important  event  in  his  life  was  cele- 
brated June  12,  1878,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  Mary  C.  Pryor,  a  native  of  Brown 
township,  and  a  daughter  of  Hammond  and 
Elizabeth  (Lydic)  Pryor,  who  came  from 
Belmont  county,  Ohio,  to  Knox  county,  the 
ancestn,-,  however,  being  Irish.  Mrs.  Work- 
man is  the  eldest  daughter  in  her  parents' 
family,  and  the  second  among  nine  children, 
all  of  whom  were  born  in  this  county.  She 
was  reared  in  Brown  township  and  educated 
in  the  -district  schools.  After  their  marriage 
our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their  domes- 
tic life  on  the  old  homestead  where  they  still 
reside,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
three  children:  Charlie  H.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  one  year  and  five  days ;  Ada  G.  and 
Ora  D.,  both  at  home. 

Mr.  Workman  has  always  carried  on 
general  farming  and  in  the  home  place  he 
owns  and  operates  one  hundred  and  forty- 
six  acres  of  rich  land.  He  also  raises  fine 
stock,  including  hogs,  sheep,  cattle  and 
horses,  and  has  a  large  number  of  fine  chick- 
ens, which  enabled  him  to  sell  sixteen  hun- 
dred dozen  eggs  in  the  year  1900.  His  busi- 
ness is  managed  with  excellent  skill  and 
ability,  and  its  various  departments  re- 
turns to  him  a  good  income.  In  addition  to 
his  other  interests  he  is  agent  for  the 
Eureka  Fertilizer  Company,  of  Sandusky, 
Ohio.  He  carries  on  his  work  in  accord  with 
progressive  spirit  and  methods  of  the  twen- 
tieth century,  and  his  labors  are  bringing 
to  him  a  creditable  prosperity.  He  has  been 
a  life-long  Democrat  in  nationel  affairs,  but 
at  local  elections  votes  for  the  candidate  re- 
gardless of  party  affiliations.    With  the  Ger- 


man Baptist  church  he  holds  membership, 
taking  an  active  part  in  its  work,  and  his 
life  has  ever  been  in  consistent  harmony  with 
his  professions. 


FRANK  O.  LEVERING. 

The  Levering  family  is  so  well  known 
in  Knox  county  that  its  representatives  need 
no  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this  vol- 
ume. When  the  Buckeye  state  was  almost 
an  unbroken  wilderness  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  land  was  still  in  possession  of  the 
government  the  family  was  founded  here, 
and  those  who  have  borne  the  name  since 
that  time  have  faithfully  carried  forward 
the  work  of  upbuilding  and  improvement  be- 
gun by  their  ancestors.  It  was  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  seventeenth  century  that  the  fam- 
ily was  first  planted  on  American  soil  by 
Gerhard  Levering  and  his  brother  Wigard. 
They  were  sons  of  Rosier  Levering,  who 
was  born  in  Holland  of  English  or  Anglo- 
Saxon  parentage,  his  father  and  mother  hav- 
ing been  exiled  from  England  on  account  of 
their  religious  belief.  Rosier  Levering  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Vandewalle,  of  Westphalia, 
Germany,  and  their  son,  Gerhard  Levering, 
was  born  in  Gamen,  Germany,  ni  1660.  In 
1685,  accompanied  by  his  brother  Wigard, 
he  braved  the  dangers  incident  to  an  ocean 
voyage  at  that  day  and  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  America.  He  married,  and  among  his 
children  was  Daniel  Levering,  who  was  born 
December  2,  1704,  and  on  the  12th  of  May, 
1735,  was  married,  in  Christ  church,  in 
Philadelphia  to  Margaret  Beane.  Tliey  re- 
sided upon  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in 
Whiteplain  township,  Montgomery  county, 
New  Jersey. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


Upon  that  farm,  on  the  loth  of  June, 
1738,  there  was  born  unto  them  a  son,  to 
whom  they  gave  the  name  of  Henry  Lever- 
ing and  who  was  the  great-great-grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject.  For  many  years  he  re- 
sided at  the  Durham  Iron  Works  in  New 
Jersiey,  but  in  1785  removed  from  there  to  a 
large  farm  in  Belfast  township,  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania.  He  wedded  Ann 
Wynn,  and  their  son,  Daniel  Levering,  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  February  3,  1764.  In  1785 
he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  married  Mary  Karney.  In  181 1 
he  visited  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land  from  the  gov- 
ernment in  Owl  Creek  valley,  whereon  he 
located  with  his  family,  and  there  spent  his 
remaining  days,  his  death  occurring  in  1820. 
His  widow  died  October  24,  1846,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty- four.  They  were 
prominent  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  leading  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Noah  Levering,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Bedford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, November  7,  1802,  and  in  1813 
came  with  his  parents  to  Knox  county.  He 
was  married  here,  March  25,  1828,  to 
Armanella  Cook,  daughter  of  John  and  Ann 
Cook,  who  came  to  Ohio  from  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  about  1805.  Their 
daughter  was  born  in  1809  and  died  June 
13,  1879,  while  Noah  Levering  passed  away 
March  4,  1881.  They  were  farming  people, 
and  the  town  of  Levering  was  laid  out  upon 
their  land. 

John  Cook  Levering,  their  son,  and  the 
father  of  Frank  O.,  was  born  on  the  old 
family  homestead,  in  INIiddlebury  township. 


September  11,  1829,  and  was  the  eldest  son 
in  a  family  of  ten  children.  His  youth  was 
spent  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  of 
that  period,  and  as  the  years  passed  he  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  control  and  manage- 
ment of  the  farm.  When  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  purchased  eighty  acres  from,  his 
father  and  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count. As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for 
the  journey  of  life  he  chose  Miss  Carrie 
Richardson,  and  they  were  married  in  i860. 
Her  parents  were  Daniel  and  Thankful 
(Camp)  Richardson,  the  former  a  well 
known  lumber  merchant  of  New  York  for 
many  years.  Mr.  Levering  and  his  wife  be- 
gan their  domestic  life  on  the  land  which  he 
had  purchased,  and  as  the  years  passed  their 
financial  resources  increased  so  that  he  was 
enabled  to  purchase  other  land  and  became 
one  of  the  wealthy  farmers  of  the  county. 
He  has  been  very  prominent  in  agricultural 
circles,  and  his  influence  has  been  felt 
throughout  the  entire  country  in  behalf  of 
the  best  interests  of  the  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  His  stock  has  won  many  first  prizes 
in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  he  did  much 
to  improve  the  grade  of  domestic  animals 
raised  in  this  part  of  the  state.  In  1866  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Knox  County  Ag- 
ricultural Society,  of  which  he  has  since  been 
a  representative,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
he  was  honored  with  the  presidency.  But 
other  honors  of  a  less  local  character  have 
been  conferred  upon  him.  In  1881  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Ohio  State  Board  of 
Agriculture.  He  assisted  in  the  purchase 
and  improvement  of  the  now  beautiful  state 
fair  grounds  and  buildings  at  Columbus, 
Ohio.  For  six  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  state  board,  was  treasurer  in  1885  and 
j  president  in  1886.     In  1883  he  represented 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


Ohio  in  the  National  Agricultural  Conven- 
tion in  Washington.  In  1887  the  goveror 
of  Ohio  appointed  him  a  member  of  the 
state  centennial  board,  and  he  took  an  active 
part  in  managing  the  Ohio  Centennial  cele- 
bration held  in  Columbus  in  1888.  In  1890, 
at  the  Ohio  Annual  Agricultural  Conven- 
tion, at  the  request  of  the  state  secretary  of 
agriculture,  he  read  a  paper  on  the  Farmers 
Horse  and  Horse  Breeding.  This  led  to  the 
formation  of  the  Ohio  State  Draft  and 
Coach  Horse  Association  in  1891,  and  of 
this  Air.  Levering  was  elected, president  and 
served  for  three  successive  years.  In  1871 
he  was  elected  county  commissioner  of  Knox 
county,  and  by  re-election  in  1874  filled  the 
position  for  six  consecutive  years.  It  was 
in  1874  that  iron  bridges  were  built  in  the 
county,  an  improvement  to  which  he  gave 
his  support.  He  was  also  instrumental  in 
building  the  county  infirmary  at  a  cost  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  In  his  po- 
litical views  he  has  been  a  life-long  Demo- 
crat, and  in  1886  was  the  nominee  of  his 
party  for  congress  in  the  ninth  Ohio  con- 
gressional district.  He  has  ever  been  most 
painstaking  and  conscientious  in  the  dis- 
charge of  all  public  duties  devolving  upon 
him,  regarding  an  office  as  a  public  trust 
which  must  not  be  betrayed.  Early  in  life 
he  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  in 
which  he  has  since  been  an  active  and  zeal- 
ous member.  When  a  history  of  the  Lever- 
ing family  was  being  prepared  in  1891  he 
acted  as  corresponding  secretary.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Levering  now  reside  at  Levering, 
Knox  county,  Ohio.  They  have  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Noah  C,  of  Richland  county, 
Ohio;  Lloyd  D.,  of  Knox  county;  John  Clif- 
ton, of  Toledo;   Mrs.   Nettie    Barnhill,  of 


Mansfield,  Ohio;  and  Frank  O.,  of  this  re- 
view. 

Frank  O.  Levering  was  born  on  the  old 
family  homestead  in  Middlebury  township, 
Knox  county,  September  29,  1862,  and  pur- 
sued his  early  education  in  the  district 
schools,  while  through  the  period  of  vaca- 
tions he  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of 
fields  and  meadows.  He  afterward  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  and  later  was  graduated 
with  honors  in  Eastman's  Commercial  Col- 
lege, in  Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  Not  de- 
siring to  follow  the  pursuit  to  which  he  had 
been  reared,  he  determined  to  enter  the  mer- 
cantile field,  and  in  1885  established  a  store 
in  the  town  of  Levering,  but  this  did  not 
prove  entirely  congenial,  and  in  1890  he  took 
up  the  study  of  law  in  Mount  Vernon,  in 
the  oflice  of  Hon.  Frank  V.  Owen,  who  di- 
rected his  reading  until  his  admission  to  the 
bar  in  1892.  He  has  since  engaged  in  prac- 
tice and  has  secured  a  very  desirable  client- 
age. In  1883  he  was  appointed  a  member 
of  the  board  of  electors  of  the  county  and 
was  twice  reappointed,  while  in  1896  he  was 
elected  probate  judge  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  Since  his  retirement  from  that  of- 
fice he  has  given  his  attention  to  his  private 
practice,  which  often  partakes  of  a  very  im- 
portant character,  as  he  is  retained  as  coun- 
sel on  many  of  the  prominent  cases  tried  in 
the  courts  of  the  district. 

The  Judge  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Byrdess  E.  Leiter,  of  Shelby,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Captain  C.  P.  Leiter,  who  was 
mayor  of  that  city  for  a  number  of  years. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  six  chil- 
dren: Howard  A.,  Russell  Edgar,  John 
Collin,  Nina  May,  Carlos  and  Ada.  In  his 
political  views  Judge  Levering  is  a  Demo- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


133 


crat  and  attended  the  national  convention 
of  his  party  as  a  delegate  in  1900.  He  is  a 
valued  representative  of  several  fraternal  or- 
ganizations, belongs  to  the  lodge,  chapter, 
council  and  commandery  in  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  of  the  last  named  has  served  as 
eminent  commander.  He  also  belongs  to 
the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a  past  chancellor 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge ;  past  grand 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  has  filled  many  other  offices  in  these 
organizations.  Like  his  ancestors,  he  has 
ever  taken  a  deep  interest  in  everything  per- 
taining to  the  progress  and  welfare  of  the 
county,  and  is  an  honored  representative  of 
a  worthy  pioneer  family. 


W.  B.  MERRIMAN,  M.  D. 

For  twenty-two  years  Dr.  Merriman  has 
been  engaged  in  practice  in  Centerburg  as  a 
skillful  physician  and  surgeon.  He  was  born 
in  Bloomfield  township,  Monroe  county, 
Ohio,  March  20,  1854,  and  is  the  youngest 
of  three  children  of  James  and  Emily 
(Carey)  Merriman.  The  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  although  his  parents 
were  Vermont  people.  He  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade  in  early  life  and  when  a 
young  man  came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  married  and  began  his  do- 
mestic life.  Later,  however,  he  removed  to 
Morrow  county,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
forty-eight  years.  His  wife,  who'  was  a  na- 
tive of  Knox  county  and  here  spent  her  girl- 
hood days,  long  survived  her  husband,  and 
passed  away  when  in  her  eighty-first  year. 

Dr.  Merriman  pursued  his  literary  edu- 
cation in  the  district  and  graded  schools  of 
Knox    county,  and    having    determined    to 


make  the  practice  of  medicine  his  life  work 
began  reading  the  usual  text-books  on  that 
subject  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Russell, 
of  Mount  Vernon.  Subsequently  he  entered 
the  Long  Island  College  Hospital,  in  Brook- 
lyn, where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1878,  and  for  one  year  thereafter  he 
practiced  in  Marengo,  Morrow  county.  The 
following  year,  1879,  he  came  to  Center- 
burg, where  he  has  since  remained,  his  ar- 
rival antedating  that  of  any  other  physician 
now  actively  connected  with  the  profession 
here.  He  has  long  maintained  a  position 
among  the  leading-  and  capable  members  of 
the  medical  fraternity  in  the  county,  for  he 
has  always  kept  in  touch  with  the  advanced 
thought  and  investigation  which  is  daily  car- 
rying on  the  work  toward  perfection. 

In  1878  Dr.  Merriman  married  Miss  Eva 
Bird,  a  daughter  of  Milton  and  Melissa 
(Robertson)  Bird,  who  came  to  Knox  coun- 
ty from  Connecticut  about  1823.  Here  Mrs. 
Merriman  was  born,  and  by  her  marriage 
she  became  the  mother  of  one  daughter, 
Zola  B.,  who  is  now  a  graduate  nurse  of 
the  Grant  Hospital  in  Columbus.  In  his  po- 
litical views  the  Doctor  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, believing  that  the  principles  of  that 
party  are  most  conducive  to  the  welfare  of 
the  nation.  He  does  all  he  can  to  secure 
Republican  successes,  but  has  never  been  an 
aspirant  for  political  honors.  He  belongs 
to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in 
Centerburg  and  to  the  American  Medical 
Society,  through  which  means  he  keeps 
abreast  with  the  advancement  made  in  the 
science  of  medicine.  Close  study,  earnest 
investigation  and  a  sympathetic  spirit  have 
enabled  him  to  carry  on  his  work  most  suc- 
cessfully, both  from  a  financial  and  profes- 
sional standpoint. 


134 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


LEVI  BUTTLES. 

Levi  Buttles  is  descended  from  an  old 
and  highly  respected  family,  the  name  be- 
ing formerly  spelled  Buttolph.  His  pater- 
nal great-grandfather,  John  Buttolph,  was 
born  in  1724  and  was  a  captain  in  the  Co- 
lonial army  during  the  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence. In  the  latter  half  of  the  eight- 
eenth century  two  of  his  sons,  Jonathan  and 
Levi  Buttolph,  lived  in  Granby,  Connecticut. 
The  former's  eldest  son,  Elihu,  moved  to 
Massachusetts,  and  while  a  member  of  the 
legislature  of  that  state  had  the  spelling  of 
the  name  changed  from  Buttolph  to  Buttles. 
This  change  seems  to  have  been  made  to 
conform  to  a  corruption  of  the  pronuncia- 
tion which  had  been  slowly  taking  place, 
transforming  Buttolph  to  Buttol,  then  to 
Buttle,  and  finally,  by  a  very  common  change 
in  the  history  of  names,  adding  an  "s." 
The  younger  son,  Levi  Buttolph,  became 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was 
born  in  1763,  at  Granby,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1805.  He  removed  to  Worthing- 
ton,  Ohio,  in  1803,  where  he  became  one  of 
the  early  pioneers,  and  there  he  purchased 
land  of  the  Connecticut  Land  Company. 

Unto  Levi  and  Sarah  Buttolph  was  born 
in  Granby,  September  6,  1791,  a  son,  who 
was  named  Roderick.  After  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  Worthington,  Ohio,  in  the 
autumn  of  1803  the  son  was  baptized,  and 
at  that  time,  disliking  the  name  of  Roderick, 
and  having  always  been  called  by  the  nick- 
name "Rory,"  he  prefixed  an  "A"  to  the  lat- 
ter and  chose  Arora  as  his  baptismal  name. 
At  the  same  time  he  adopted  the  spelling  of 
the  family  name  which  his  cousin  Elihu  had 
introduced,  and  thenceforth  signed  his  name 
Arora  Buttles.     But  the  four  sons  of-  our 


subject  have  decided,  with  the  full  approval 
of  their  father  and  mother,  to  restore  the 
old  spelling  of  the  family  name.  Their  chief 
reason  for  the  change  is  that  the  name 
Buttolph,  in  the  earlier  English  records  also 
spelled  Botolf,  Botolph  and  Butolph,  is  the 
historic  surname,  and  that  the  modern  cor- 
ruption is  greatly  regretted  by  most  if  not 
all  members  of  the  family.  Two  or  three 
branches  of  the  family  in  America  have 
steadily  preserved  the  old  spelling  of  the 
name.  Some  of  the  branches  which  adopted 
the  corrupted  spelling  have  died  out  in  the 
male  line,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  change 
now  made  will  materially  aid  in  the  effort  to 
discard  entirely  the  spelling  Buttles  in  all 
branches  of  the  family  of  Buttolph. 

Judge  Arora  Buttles  married  Harriet 
Kilbourne,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  James  Kil- 
bourne  and  Lucy,  nee  Fitch,  the  daughter 
of  John  Fitch,  the  inventor  of  the  steamboat. 
He  is  a  representative  of  Thomas  Kilbourne, 
one  of  the  original  settlers  at  Wether sfield, 
Connecticut.  Colonel  James  Kilbourne  set- 
tled at  Worthington,  Ohio,  in  1803  ;  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  of  early  days 
of  Ohio;  was  a  member  of  congress  and 
identified  with  all  the  early  public  life  of  this 
state.  He  came  to  Scioto  county  and  was 
instrumental  in  settling  a  colony  at  JVorth- 
ington.  He  also  founded  Bucyrus,  Ohio, 
and  his  grandson,  Colonel  James  Kilbourne, 
was  lately  a  Democratic  candidate  for  gov- 
ernor. 

Judge  Arora  Buttles,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  became  a  prominent  contractor  and 
builder  in  Columbus,  and  was  also  engaged 
in  the  pork-packing  business  in  that  city, 
and  there  served  the  public  as  probate  judge 
for  a  time.  In  1847  li^  removed  to  Cleve- 
land, where  he  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


lumber  business  until  he  retired  from  the 
active  duties  of  life  and  removed  to  Gambler, 
where  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  passing 
away  on  the  2d  of  April,  1864. 

Levi  Buttles,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  graduated  at  Kenyon  College 
in  the  class  of  1847,  and  on  putting  aside 
his  text-books  to  engage  in  the  active  duties 
of  life  he  entered  upon  a  business  life  with 
his  father  in  Cleveland.  In  1858,  in  com- 
pany with  S.  N.  Sanford,  he  assumed  con- 
trol of  the  Cleveland  Female  Seminary,  be- 
coming one  of  its  proprietors,  and  so  contin- 
uing until  1880.  Three  years  later  he  became 
identified  with  the  Cleveland  Window  Glass 
Company  as  its  vice-president,  this  concern 
being  one  oi  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  that 
city.  He  was  a  wide-awake,  energetic  busi- 
ness man  of  known  reliability,  and  carried 
forward  to  successful  completion  whatever 
he  undertook;  but  his  life's  labors  were 
ended  in  death  on  the  nth  of  June,  1891. 
For  many  years  prior  to  his  death  he  made 
his  home  in  Gambler,  and  was  a  prominent 
figure  in  the  social  life  of  the  town.  He  was 
chosen  by  the  alumni  a  trustee  of  Kenyon 
College,  so  serving  from  1873  to  1881,  and 
as  such  superintended  the  construction  of 
Delano  Hall. 

On  the  i8th  of  August,  1858,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Buttles  and  Miss  Jane 
E.  Wright,  who  was  born  in  Portage  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Aaron  K.  and 
Helen  M.  (Ashmun)  Wright.  She  was  a 
cousin  of  Senator  Ashmun,  of  Massachu- 
setts, who'  nominated  Lincoln  for  the  presi- 
dency in  the  Chicago  convention.  His  grand- 
father, Dr.  Amos  C.  Wright,  was  an  early 
pioneer  of  Tallmadge,  Ohio,  his  eldest  diild 
having  been  the  first  white  child  born  in  that 
township.    The  Doctor  was  also  one  of  the 


first  trustees  of  Western  Reserve  College, 
and  for  many  years  he  was  a  prominent  and 
well  known  physician  of  his  locality.  The 
union  of  our  subject  and  wife  was  blessed 
with  six  children.  The  eldest,  Edwin  K.  But- 
tolph,  received  his  education  in  Hobart  Col- 
lege, and  in  1881  he  went  to  China  as  a 
missionary,  and  after  his  arrival  there  he 
became  an  employe  of  Tong-Kin-Sin,  an 
electrician  in  the  first  coal  mine  opened  in 
that  country.  While  there  Mr.  Buttolph 
built  with  liis  own  hands  a  telephone  line 
of  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  length,, 
which  was  the  first  telephone  ever  built  in 
China.  He  returned  to-  accept  the  chair  of 
Chemistry  in  Hobart  College,  resigning  to 
engage  in  silver  mining  in  Colorado,  being 
an  expert  assayer  there  and  manager  of 
mines  in  Equador,  South  America.  The  sec- 
ond child  in  order  of  birth,  Mary,  is  the 
widow  of  Wolcott  E.  Newberry  and  a  resi- 
dent of"  New  Haven,  Connecticut.  Helen 
A.  Buttles  is  at  home.  Alfred  passed  away 
in  death  in  April,  1891,  aged  twenty-three 
years.  He,  too,  was  educated  in  Hobart 
College.  Guy  H.  Buttolph  graduated  in 
Kenyon  College  with  the  class  of  1892,  and 
is  now  mining  in  Equador,  South  America. 
Henry  W.,  also  a  graduate  of  Kenyon  Col- 
lege, in  same  class  and  who  was  valedictor- 
ian, is  now  actuary  of  the  Inter  State  Life 
Assurance  Company,  of  Indianapolis,  In- 
diana. Mr.  Buttles,  of  this  review,  was  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason,  and  for  many  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  in 
whicli  he  was  a  very  active  worker.  He  was 
treasurer  of  the  diocese  of  Ohio  from  1873 
till  his  death.  This  was  one  of  the  most  es- 
sential and  responsible  ofSices  of  the  diocese. 
His  widow  and  family  are  also  identified 
with  the  same  religious  denomination. 


136 


A    CEiNTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


JOSIAH  AI.  PUMPHREY. 

Tlie  late  Josiah  AI.  Pumphrey,  of  Clay 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  was  one 
whose  life  in  many  ways  demonstrated  the 
value  of  high  character  and  should  serve 
as  a  guide  to  young  men  who  would  succeed 
along  legitimate  lines.  Air.  Pumphrey  was 
born  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  June  4,  1821, 
and  died  at  his  home  in  Clay  township  De- 
cember 16,  1894.  His  parents  were  John 
and  Martha  (Milligan)  Pumphrey,  and  he 
was  their  third  child  in  order  of  nativit}'. 
He  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
county  and  came  to  Knox  county  in  1846. 
He  was  married,  February  24,  1849,  in  Clay 
township  and  removed  to  Hartford,  Licking 
county,  where  he  remained  seven  years.  Re- 
turning thence  to  Clay  township,  he  fol- 
lowed farming  there  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  member  and  for  many  years  an  elder 
of  the  Christian  church,  of  which  he  was 
an  active  supporter  and  to  whose  Sunday- 
school  work  he  was  much  devoted.  In  pol- 
itics he  was  a  Republican  from  the  organiza- 
tion of  that  party.  He  served  a  short  time 
during  the  Civil  war  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Union  army,  and  was  an  honored  member  of 
Emerson  Lpdyke  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  of  Martinsburg.  In  many  direc- 
tions he  was  prominent  in  local  afifairs,  and 
he  was  well  known  throughout  the  county. 

Mr.  Pumphrey  married  Miss  Celia  Ross, 
who  was  born  in  Clay  township,  Knox  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  July  4,  1830,  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Charity  (Montgomery)  Ross,  he  a 
native  of  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Ross  was  married  in  his  native  county,  and 
was  a  pioneer  settler  in  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
coming  here  about  1820,  and  locating  in  the 
woods  in  Qay  township,  where  he  built  a 


log  cabin.  This  was  afterward  replaced  by 
a  better  residence,  and  he  cleared  land  and 
improved  a  fine  farm,  on  which  he  lived  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  in 
his  seventy-sixth  year.  The  old  homestead 
is  still  owned  by  Mrs.  Pumphrey.  He  Avas 
a  devoted  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  in  politics  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a 
Republican.  His  father,  Timothy  Ross,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Charity  Mont- 
gomery, who  became  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Ross,  was  born  and  reared  in  Maryland  and 
lived  to  the  age  of  fifty-four  years.  She 
bore  her  husband  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  five  of  whom  grew  to  manhood 
and  womanhood  and  of  whom  Mrs.  Pumph- 
rey, the  eldest  daughter,  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth. 

Mrs.  Pumphrey  was  reared  in  Clay  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  though  she 
attended  other  schools  in  the  township  of 
a  later  date  she  has  a  vivid  recollection  of 
the  old  log  school  houses  in  which  the  prim- 
itive subscription  schools  were  taught.  She 
was  married  to  Mr.  Pumphrey  September 
24,  1849,  s"d  has  a  son,  Ross  Pumphrey, 
a  farmer  in  Clay  township.  He  married 
Emma  Caldwell,  and  their  children  are 
Leigh,  Merton,  Fay  and  Celia  A.  Mrs. 
Pumphrey  has  three  great-grandsons,  Fran- 
cis Burdette  and  Horace  Pumphrey  and  an 
infant.  One  of  her  sisters,  Mrs.  Nancy  In- 
gersoll,  lives  in  Bates  county,  Missouri. 
Airs.  Pumphrey  is  the  only  representative  of 
the  family  in  Knox  county. 

WILSON  S.  KERR. 

One  of  the  leading  representatives  of  ag- 
ricultural and  commercial  interests  in 
Frederickstown  and  Knox  countv  is  Wilson 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


137 


S.  Kerr.  "Through  struggles  to  success"  is 
the  epitome  of  his  business  record.  He  is 
possessed  of  marked  determination  and  un- 
faltering purpose  and  has  steadily  advanced, 
brooking  no  obstacles  that  could  be  over- 
come by  unfaltering  industry  and  capable 
management.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life 
in  this  county,  his  birth  occurring  in  Pleas- 
ant township  on  the  nth  of  May,  1839. 

His  father,  Benjamin  Kerr,  who  was  a 
farmer  of  Pleasant  township,  was  born  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Scioto  river  in  what  is 
now  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  April  14,  1800. 
In  1803  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  a  location  being  made 
in  Fredericktown,  where  he  remained  with 
his  parents  until  1827,  when  he  assisted  in 
the  erection  of  a  mill,  now  gone  to  decay, 
known  as  the  Kerr  or  Miller  mill.  In  about 
1826  he  sank  the  first  well  in  Gambier,  on 
the  public  square,  for  Bishop  Chase.  On 
the  30th  of  October,  1827,  Mr.  Kerr  mar- 
ried Rosa  Elliott,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Eaton)  Elliott,  who  came  to 
Knox  county  in  1806.  This  union  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  seven  children :  Sarah  A., 
John  B.,  William  E.,  Eliza  J.,  Chambers, 
Wilson  S.  and  Rose  E.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Kerr  settled  on  a  homestead  farm  in 
Pleasant  township  and  remained  there  until 
1838,  when  he  sold  the  mill  property  and 
bought  a  farm  in  the  same  township,  and  for 
four  score  years  milling  and  farming  was  his 
principal  vocation.  He  was  truly  a  remark- 
able man,  upright  and  honest,  and  in  all  his 
dealings  he  proved  to  the  world  he  was  in 
all  respects  a  true  man. 

In  the  district  schools  Mr.  Kerr,  of  this 
revie^v,  pursued  his  education  until  twenty 
years  of  age,  and  in  the  meantime  had  be- 
come familiar  with  all  departments  of  farm 


work,  being  employed  in  the  fields  on  his 
father's  farm  through  the  periods  of  vaca- 
tion. The  occupation  to'  which  he  was 
reared  he  has  made  his  life  work,  and  to-day 
he  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  is  rich  and 
arable  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
He  carries  on  general  farming  and  in  return 
for  his  care  and  cultivation  the  well  tilled 
fields  yield  to  him  rich  harvests.  His  meth- 
ods are  modem  and  progressive  and  every- 
thing about  his  place  indicates  his  careful 
supervision.  In  addition  to  farming  he  is 
interested  in  the  business  of  the  exportation 
of  hard  wood  lumber  and  logs,  to  which 
much  of  his  attention  has  been  devoted  for 
twenty  years.  His  trade  has  reached  credit- 
able proportions  and  thereby  materially  in- 
creases his  general  income. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1877,  Mr.  Kerr 
was  united  in  marriage  tO'  Miss  Hattie  Cog- 
gins,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Louisa 
(Marquind)  Coggins,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children :  Sarah,  who  married  Royal 
Bartlett,  and  Hattie,  the  wife  of  Elcer  Sli- 
ger.  The  mother  died  in  1882  and  Mr. 
Kerr  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Hattie  Hogle,  a  daughter 
of  Langdon  and  Amanda  (Disney)  Hogle. 
Four  children  grace  this  union :  Bunyan, 
Helen,  Hazel  and  Dewitt,  all  of  whom  are 
still  under  the  parental  roof. 

Many  years  ago  Mr.  Kerr  became  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  being  initiated  into  Mount  Vernon 
Lodge,  but  later  he  transferred  his  member- 
ship to  Fredericktown  Lodge,  with  which 
he  is  now  connected.  He  exercises  his  right 
of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  Democracy,  and  in  1900  he  was 
elected  trustee  of  Morris  township,  in  which 


138 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


capacity  he  is  now  serving.  He  is  one  of 
the  best-known  men  of  his  community  and 
enjoys  the  unqualified  regard  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  is  straightforward  and  reliable 
in  business,  faithful  in  public  office  and 
meets  his  fraternal  obligations  with  con- 
scientious earnestness.  Industry  is  the  foun- 
dation upon  which  he  has  secured  a  success 
which  now  classes  him  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of  this  portion  of  Knox  county. 


LURESTON  WILLARD  DENNIS. 

L.  W.  Dennis  is  associated  with  both 
the  industrial  and  agricultural  interests  of 
Berlin  township,  where  he  is  now  following 
carpentering  and  farming.  He  was  born 
in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  March  12,  1862, 
and  is  one  of  ten  children  born  to  William 
H.  and  Lydia  (Perkins)  Dennis.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Maryland  and  when 
young  became  a  resident  of  Washington 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  and  ed- 
ucated. There  he  learned  the  millwright's 
trade,  which  he  followed  through  much  of 
his  active  life.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Perkins,  who  was 
bom  in  Ohio.  Both  died  in  Guernsey  coun- 
ty, and  of  their  children  one  died  in  in- 
fancy, while  nine  reached  mature  years. 

Abram  Dennis,  the  father  of  William 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  in  1865 
came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died 
in  i8/'4,  aged  eighty-two  years.  His  four 
children  were  William  H.,  Martha,  Laura 
and  Philip  H.  Martha  was  never  married, 
and  her  death  occurred  when  she  was  about 
fifty  years  of  age.  She  had  been  a  teacher 
for  some  years,  ever  taking  a  deep  interest 
in  education,  and  much  of  her  life  was  de- 


voted to  those  she  loved.  Laura  also  has 
never  married,  and  although  well  advanced 
in  years  she  is  still  living  with  her  nephew, 
whose  tender  years  were  passed  under  her 
personal  direction.  Philip  is  a  retired  citi- 
zen of  Maumee,  Ohio,  and  his  daughter 
Ella  is  now  and  has  been  for  nearly  twenty 
years  our  subject's  housekeeper. 

The  parents  of  Lureston  W.  Dennis,  of 
this  review,  passed  from  life  but  a  few 
weeks  apart,  and  soon  after  their  death  he 
became  a  member  of  his  grandfather's  fam- 
ily in  Knox  county,  being  then  but  a  lad 
of  four  years.  When  he  was  twelve  years 
of  age  his  grandfather  also  died,  and  he 
was  then  carefully  trained  by  his  two  aunts, 
but  the  future  they  planned  for  him  was 
somewhat  changed  by  the  death  of  the  elder 
aunt,  who  passed  away  about  one  year  after 
her  father's  death.  She  had  decided  that  he 
should  have  a  thorough  collegiate  training, 
an  idea  which  was  abandoned  when  she  was 
taken  from  the  family.  Inheriting  a  natural 
tendency  toward  mechanics,  Mr.  Dennis 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  an  occupation 
to  which  much  of  his  energy  has  since  been 
devoted,  though  he  also  looks  after  the  work 
of  the  farm.  Ever  maintaining  a  full  appre- 
ciation for  those  whose  love  had  done  so 
much  for  him,  he  resolved  to  assume  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  caring  for  them  when  age 
had  made  him  their  natural  protector. 

In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Dennis  is  a 
member  of  Theall  Lodge,  No.  170,  F.  &  A. 
'M.,  at  Fredericktown,  also  of  Clinton  Chap- 
ter, R.  A.  M.,  and  Clinton  Commandery, 
both  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  of  the  Supreme 
Council,  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite 
in  Cincinnati.  He  devotes  considerable  at- 
tention to  lodge  work,  and  attends  the  state 
and  national  conclaves  of  Knight  Templars. 


OF    KNOX   COUNTY,    OHIO. 


139 


PROFESSOR  EDWARD  CLOSE  BEN- 
SON, D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

The  name  above  is  that  of  one  who  has 
long  been  identified  with  education  in  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  and  who  in  his  work  year  by 
year  has  exempHfied  all  those  abilities  and 
attainments  which  have  made  educators  hon- 
ored in  all  parts  of  our  country.  Professor 
Edward  C.  Benson  was  born  in  Thorne, 
Yorkshire,  England,  April  26,  1823,  a  son 
of  John  Benson,  a  barrister,  who  was  in 
turn  the  son  of  a  barrister.  Soon  after  the 
birth  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  John  Ben- 
son moved  to  a  country  residence,  and  in 
1832  he  brought  his  family  to  the  United 
States,  settling  at  Peoria,  Illinois.  He  was 
killed  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun, 
and  his  wife,  nee  Harriet  Coupland,  started 
to  return  to  England,  but  at  New  York  sick- 
ened and  died  and  was  buried  in  old  Trinity 
churchyard. 

In  1840  Edward  C.  Benson  entered 
Knox  College,  Galesburg,  Illinois.  After 
the  completion  oi  his  freshman  course  he 
taught  one  term  oi  public  school  and  then 
went  to  the  parish  of  West  Baton  Rouge, 
Louisiana,  where  he  became  a  private  tutor 
in  the  families  of  large  planters.  In  1846 
he  entered  Kenyon  College,  at  Gambier,  in 
accordance  with  plans  long  held,  in  which 
institution  he  was  duly  graduated  in  1849 
with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  and  as  the  valedic- 
torian of  his  class.  In  1850-51  he  was  Latin 
tutor  in  his  alma  mater  and  during  this  time 
began  his  theolo(]'icaI  studies  in  Baxley  Hall 
and  in  1853  was  ordained  a  deacon  Ijy 
Bishop  Mcllvaine.  Rev.  Dr.  Alfred  Blake 
established  Harcourt  School  ni  1851,  in 
connection  with  whom  E.  C.  Benson  labored 
successfullv  for  sixteen  vears.     In  1867  he 


was,  without  solicitation  or  knowledge  on 
his  part,  elected  a  member  of  the  faculty  of" 
Kenyon  College,  at  Gam.bier,  in  which  he 
has  served  as  Professor  of  Latin  and  lan- 
guage and  literature.  Filling  this  chair  with 
honor  for  thirty-one  years,  owing  to  ill- 
health  he  resigned  and  was  made  professor 
emeritus. 

September  26,  1854,  Professor  Benson 
was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  White,  daughter 
of  Mardenbro  White,  who  came  to  Gam- 
bier with  Bishop  Mcllvaine  from  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  in  1832,  and  had  charge  of  the 
college  store,  and  who  in  1843  ^^'''s  elected 
agent  and  treasurer  of  the  college,  a  position 
he  filled  almost  continuously  until  his  death 
in  1882. 

Politically  Mr.  Benson  has  been  a  stanch 
Republican  since  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  His  labors  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  cause  of  education  have  been 
unceasing  and  always  efifectual,  he  ever  be- 
ing in  the  van  in  every  movement  intended 
to  promote  mental,  moral  and  spiritual 
growth. 


JOSEPH  LEEDY. 

Throughout  his  active  business  career 
Joseph  Leedy  was  prominently  connected 
with  the  agricultural  interest  of  Berlin 
township  and  as  an  honorable  business  man 
and  public-spirited  citizen  he  was  widely 
known  in  Knox  county,  commanding  uni- 
form respect  by  his  sterling  worth. 

Mr.  Leedy  was  born  in  Pennsyl\-ania, 
December  5,  1825,  a  son  of  Abram  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Zook)  Leedy,  who  with  their  family 
emigrated  westward  to  Ohio  when  our  sub- 
ject was  but  four  years  old.     They  located 


140 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


on  a  farm  on  which  Ankenytown  has  since 
been  built,  and  there  the  Httle  son  grew  and 
developed  into  manhood,  pursuing  liis  edu- 
cation in  tlie  district  schools,  while  in  the 
summer  months  he  gained  practical  experi- 
ence in  farming  from  work  in  the  fields.  He 
was  thus  well  prepared  to  carry  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  his  own  account  when  he 
married  and  began  life  for  himself.  He  be- 
came the  O'wner  of  a  valuable  property,  the 
well  tilled  fields  annually  returning  to  him 
golden  harvests.  Upon  the  place  were  seen 
substantial  barns  and  outbuildings,  good 
grades  of  stock,  the  latest  improved  machin- 
ery and  well  kept  fences  which  divided  the 
place  into  fields  of  convenient  size.  Every- 
thing about  the  place  indicated  the  supervi- 
sion of  a  progressive  owner. 

On  the  5th  of  October,  1854,  Mr.  Leedy 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Keiser,  who  was 
bom  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  May  12, 
1834,  daughter  of  Jacob  Keiser,  who  was  a 
native  of  the  Keystone  state  and  became  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Richland  county.  He 
wedded  Elizabeth  Worst  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Leedy  was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  Her 
girlhood  days  were  spent  in  the  county  of 
her  nativity  and  she  was  trained  to  the  duties 
of  the  household.  At  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Leedy  took  up  their  abode  upon 
the  farm  which  is  now  the  home  of  the 
widow,  and  eleven  children  were  there  born 
unto  them :  Nancy,  the  wife  of  Seth  Con- 
rad; George;  Sylvester;  Josephus ;  Caleb; 
Dennis;  Sada,  the  wife  of  C.  V.  Humph- 
rey; Cerelda,  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Cocanour; 
Lenora,  the  wife  of  John  Fry ;  William  ;  and 
Cora  May,  the  wife  of  V.  A.  Merrin.  All 
are  married  and  the  family  circle  yet  re- 
mains unbroken  as  far  as  the  children  are 


concerned,  but  the  husband  and  father  was 
called  away,  leaving  behind  him  a  large  cir- 
cle of  sorrowing  friends  as  well  as  his  im- 
mediate family,  among  whom  his  place  can 
never  be  filled. 

Mr.  Leedy  was  very  reliable  in  all  busi- 
ness transactions,  and  his  honesty,  as  well 
as  his  industry  and  perseverance,  was  a 
salient  feature  in  his  career.  His  success  as 
a  farmer  enabled  him  to  leave  his  family  in 
comfortable  financial  circumstances.  In  his 
political  views  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  never 
aspired  to  office.  He  held  membership  in 
the  Progressive  Brethren  church  and  his 
wife  also  belongs  there.  She  is  still  living 
upon  the  home  farm,  which  comprises  three 
hundred  acres  of  the  rich  land  of  Knox 
county.  The  family  is  one  of  prominence 
in  the  community  and  well  deserves  mention 
among  the  representative  citizens  of  this 
portion  of  Ohio. 


CAPTAIN  HENRY  CLAY  HARRIS. 

The  well  known  farmer  of  Miller  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Ohio,  whose  name  is 
above  has  an  enviable  record  as  a  soldier 
and  as  a  judicial  officer,  and  his  standing  as 
a  citizen  is  deservedly  high.  Therefore 
some  account  of  his  creditable  career  is  ab- 
solutely necessary  to  the  completeness  of 
this  work. 

Henry  Clay  Harris,  son  of  Emor  and 
Sarah  (Sweet)  Harris,  was  born  in  the  house 
in  which  he  now  lives,  one  of  the  oldest  brick 
residences  in  the  county,  September  29, 
1832,  and  it  may  be  said  that  he  practically 
has  had  no  business  except  farming  during 
all  his  active  years.    His  father,  Emor  Har- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


t4i 


ris,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  in  1792,  and 
early  connected  himself  with  the  minute  men 
of  his  day  and  locality,  who  were  ever  ready 
to  act  instantly  in  defense  of  our  then  young 
nation.  The  fact  that  there  is  nO'  record 
that  he  was  ever  called  into  active  service 
does  not  dim  the  luster  of  his  patriotic  inten- 
tions. He  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  18 16  and 
located  on  land  now  owned  by  H.  Grant 
Harris,  which  he  secured  as  military  land. 
He  was  a  man  of  influence  in  the  com- 
munity. He  married,  in  1813  Miss  Sarah 
Sweet,  who  bore  him  eight  children :  Caro- 
line born  in  Rhode  Island;  and  Emor  B. ; 
Sarah,  May,  Bessie,  Lydia,  Emily  and  Henry 
Clay,  born  in  Ohio..  Of  this  family  of  chil- 
dren only  Emor  B.,  of  Red  Oak,  Iowa,  Car- 
oline of  Galena,  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  and 
Henry  Clay  are  living.  Sarah  (Sweet) 
Harris  was  a  daughter  of  Philip  and  An- 
fillis  (Brown)  Sweet,  natives  of  Rhode  Is- 
land, and  her  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  for  independence. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  charter 
member  of  Syramore  Valley  Lodge,  No. 
553,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and,  having  passed  all  its  chairs,  is  one  of  its 
honored  past  noble  grands.  He  has  been 
once  elected  treasurer  of  Miller  township 
and  has  by  successive  re-election  filled  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  four  suc- 
cessive terms.  His  military  career  began 
early  in  1864,  when  he  recruited  a  company 
for  the  United  States'  service  in  Pleasant 
and  Miller  townships,  which  became  Com- 
pany C,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-second 
Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  and  of 
which  he  was  elected  captain  at  its  organia- 
tion,  May  13,  1864.  The  organization  was 
mustered  into  the  service  at  Camp  Chase, 
Columbus,  and  at  once  left  for  Fort  Lvon 


and  was  under  fire  almost  daily  in  Grant's 
line  advancing  on  Richmond  until  it  was 
mustered  out  at  Camp  Chase  in  September, 
1864.  He  is  a  member  of  Fry  Post,  No. 
706. 

When  twenty- four  years  of  age  Captain 
Harris  married  Miss  Dorcas  Gates,  who  has 
borne  him  four  children:  Mary  W.,  Cyrus 
G.,  Carrie  A.  and  Grant.  Mary  W.  mar- 
ried A.  E.  Lockwood  and  died  in  1891. 
Carrie  A.  died  in  1893,  tinmarried.  Cyrus 
G.  is  a  teacher  of  Brandon.  Grant  Harris 
was  born  April  21,  1867,  and  was  married 
December  7,  1892,  to  Miss  Ella  Barker,  a 
daughter  of  George  W.  and  Rachal 
(Moody)  Barker,  of  Brandon.  Five  years 
ago  he  bought  his  father's  old  homestead, 
which  was  secured  by  his  grandfather  in 
18 16.  It  comprises  sixty-seven  acres  and 
devoted  to  general  farming.  Is  a  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  views.  On  his  twenty- 
first  birthday  he  was  made  an  Odd  Fellow, 
and  has  passed  the  chairs  of  Sycamore 
Lodge,  and  Lyman  lodge  of  Rebeccas  was 
organized  under  his  jurisdiction  as  Noble 
Grand. 


LYMAN  W.  ARMENTROUT,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Lyman  Wright  Armentrout,  who  is 
successfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  Mount  Vernon,  where  he  located  in 
1887,  was  born  in  Pike  township,  Knox 
county,  September  14,  1844,  and  traces  his 
ancestry  back  to  Germany,  where  occurred 
the  birth  of  Henry  Armentrout,  his  great- 
grandfather. Leaving  Germany  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world  and  took  up 
his  abode  in  Virginia.  When  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  was  inaugurated  he  espoused 


142 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


the  cause  of  the  colonies  and  fought  for  the 
freedom  of  the  American  people.  Philip 
Armentrout,  the  grandfather  of  the  Doctor, 
was  born  in  the  Old  Dominion  and  after  ar- 
riving at  years  of  maturity  wedded  Mary 
Fluke,  also  a  native  of  that  state  and  of 
Holland  lineage.  Emigrating  westward 
they  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Pike  township, 
Knox  coimty,  Ohio,  where  the  wife  died  at 
the  age  of  fifty  years,  while  Philip  Armen- 
trout passed  away  in  1859,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-five.  Among  their  children 
was  Simon  Armentrout.  the  Doctor's  father. 
He  was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Vir- 
ginia, in  1810,  and  was  brought  to  this 
county  by  his  parents  when  only  seven  years 
of  age.  Amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier 
life  he  was  reared  and  upon  the  home  farm 
he  early  became  familiar  with  all  the  duties 
incident  to  the  life  of  the  agriculturist.  He 
married  Rachel  Phillips,  .  whose  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  native  of  England  and 
sailed  thence  to  the  United  States,  taking 
up  his  abode  in  Maryland.  He  married  a 
Miss  Frizzel  and  among  their  children  was 
William  Phillips,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Ar- 
mentrout. He  was  about  eleven  years  of 
age  when  with  his  parents  he  removed  from 
Maryland  to  Cadiz,  Ohio.  He  was  married 
in  Knox  county  to  Miss  Polly  Walker,  who 
also  came  from  Alaryland. 

Unto  the  Doctor's  parents  were  born  the 
following  children ;  William,  a  resident  of 
Mansfield,  Richland  county,  Ohio;  George 
W.,  a  resident  farmer  of  Shelbyville,  Mis- 
souri; Simon,  who  resides  near  Valparaiso, 
Indiana;  Olive,  wife  of  Cyrus  Hunter,  of 
Pike  township,  Knox  county;  Samantha, 
the  wife  of  George  Mahaflfy,  formerly  of 
Knox  county,  but  now  of  Shelbyville,  Mis- 
souri;  and  Lucinda,  the  wife  of  John  Mc- 


Ginley,  who  was  at  one  time  a  resident  of 
Knox  county  but  is  now  living  near  Val- 
paraiso, Indiana. 

Dr.  Armentrout,  the  other  member  of 
this  family,  was  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  of 
the  period,  his  time  being  devoted  to  the 
work  of  the  fields,  to  the  duties  of  the  school 
room  and  the  pleasures  of  the  playground. 
After  leaving  the  common  schools  he  deter- 
mined to  make  the  practice  of  medicine  his 
life  work  and  continued  his  education  in  the 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  for 
a  time,  completing  his  professional  prepara- 
tion in  the  Detroit  Medical  College,  in 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1871.  He  then 
located  for  practice  in  Belleville,  Richland 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  1882, 
when  he  took  up  his  abode  upon  a  farm  in 
this  county,  remaining  there  until  1887, 
when  he  removed  to  Mount  Vernon.  Since 
his  graduation  he  has  given  his  attention 
entirely  to  his  professional  duties  with  the 
result  that  he  is  well  qualified  for  his  work 
and  receives  a  large  and  lucrative  patronage. 

The  Doctor  married  Miss  Maria  Tulloss, 
a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Tulloss, 
of  Morgan  township,  who  has  devoted  much 
of  his  life  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  as  a 
preacher  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  was 
born  in  this  county.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Armen- 
trout now  have  two  children,  L.  Vance  and 
Lina.  The  son  is  a  graduate  of  the  high 
school  of  Mount  Vernon  and  spent  two  years 
in  the  Ohio  State  University.  In  1898  he 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  Spanish-American 
war  in  Company  L,  Fourth  Ohio  Regiment, 
which  company  was  formed  in  Alount  Ver- 
non, and  saw  service  in  Porto  Rico,  He  is 
now  reading  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Wait, 
of  ]Mount  \^ernon. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


143 


In  his  political  views  the  Doctor  is  a 
Democrat,  but  has  never  aspired  to  public 
office.  Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  his  religious  faith  is 
indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  Baptist 
church.  Not  only  in  Mount  Vernon  but  in 
the  adjoining  country  the  Doctor  is  known 
as  a  skillful  physician  and  surgeon,  one  who 
has  given  years  of  thought  and  painstaking 
preparation  to  his  profession  and  who  is 
thoroughly  qualified  for  his  practice.  Na- 
ture endowed  himi  with  the  qualities  neces- 
sary for  success  as  a  practitioner,  for  he  is 
sympathetic,  patient  and  thoughtful,  and  in 
the  hour  of  extremity  cool  and  courageous. 
Though  his  practice  engrosses  much  of  his 
attention  he  still  finds  time  to  keep  posted 
upon  the  practical  details  in  the  improve- 
ments of  the  science  and  avail  himself  o-f 
every  development  in  remedial  agencies,  thus 
maintaining  his  place  among  the  leading 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  his  native 
county. 


JAMES  McGINLEY 


Throughout  his  entire  life  James  McGin- 
ley  has  resided  in  Knox  county,  and  his 
career  has  been  honorable  and  straightfor- 
ward, a  fact  which  is  indicated  by  the  friend- 
ship which  is  accorded  him  by  those  who 
have  known  hlim  from  eajriy  youth.  He 
lives  on  section  19,  Pike  township,  and  it 
was  upon  this  farm  that  he  was  born  Jan- 
uary 16,  i846..  His  father,  Robert  McGin- 
ley,  was  a  native  of  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  born  in  1804.  The  ancestry 
is  traced  back  to  the  Emerald  Isle  for  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  RobertMc- 


Ginley,  was  a  native  of  that  land  and  after 
crossing  the  broad  Atlantic  and  residing 
for  some  time  in  the  east,  he  became  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Knox  county.  His 
son,  Samuel  McGinley,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  spent  his  entire  life  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. When  a  young  man  Robert  McGin- 
ley came  to  this  county  and  was  here  mar- 
ried in  1827  to  Eve  Lindsey.  Her  mother 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Reed  and  her  father 
was  a  colonel  under  General  Washington  in 
the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was  a  most 
valiant  officer,  and  on  the  8th  of  October, 
1901,  in  commemoration  of  his  able  services, 
a  monument  was  unveiled  to  him  at  Morris- 
town,  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  McGinley  was  a 
native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  brought  by  her  parents  to  this  coun- 
ty when  only  six  years  of  age.  Her  birth 
occurred  in  1806.  The  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject located  upon  the  farm  where  James  Mc- 
Ginley now  resides,  the  tract  of  land  having 
been  entered  from  the  government  by  Rob- 
ert Strain.  There  the  father  engaged  in 
farming  throughout  his  remaining  days. 
His  death  occurred  in  1867,  while  his  wife, 
who  long  survived  him,  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six  years.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Lindsey,  a  native  of  the  Key- 
stone state,  who  on  casting  his  lot  with  the 
early  settlers  of  Knox  county  established  his 
home  in  Pike  township,  where  Mrs.  McGin- 
ley was  reared.  By  her  marriage  she  be- 
came the  mother  of  ten  children,  three 
daughters  and  seven  sons,  of  whom  all  but 
one  reached  mature  years.  One  son  died  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  years. 

In  taking  up  the  pt^rsonal  history  of 
James  McGinley  we  present  to  our  readers 
the  life  record  of  one  who  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  Knox  county.     He  was 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


the  youngest  of  ten  children  in  his  parents' 
family,  and  was  reared  upon  the  farm  where 
he  still  resides.  In  the  midst  of  his  farm 
duties  he  was  allowed  time  in  which  to  at- 
tend the  district  schools,  and  thus  he  became 
familiar  with  the  work  of  the  fields  and  with 
the  English  branches  of  learning,  which 
fitted  him  to  cope  with  the  practical  and  re- 
sponsible duties  of  life.  After  his  marriage 
he  brought  his  bride  to  the  old  homestead, 
where  he  has  since  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing. Here  he  owns  ninety-four  acres  of 
good  land,  and  in  connection  with  the  culti- 
vation of  cereals  best  adapted  to>  this  climate 
he  is  extensively  and  successfully  engaged  in 
the  breeding  and  raising  of  draft  horses. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  1867,  Mr.  Mc- 
Ginley  wedded  Elizabeth  Braddock,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Joshua  and  Margaret  (Durbin)  Brad- 
dock,  who  were  early  settlers  in  Knox  coun- 
ty, and  who'  has  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, Mrs.  McGinley  being  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth.  She  was  born  in  Morris 
township,  October  30,  1846,  and  by  her  mar- 
riage she  has  become  the  mother  of  four 
children,  namely:  Kit  Estella,  of  Freder- 
icktown;  Walter,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  provision  business  in  Fredericktown ; 
Pearl,  who  is  the  wife  of  Howard 
Huntsberger,  a  teacher  of  the  same  place, 
and  Rollin  B.,  who  is  teaching  in  the  home 
district  school.  Mr.  McGinley  and  his  fam- 
ily occupy  a  prominent  position  in  social 
circles  and  he  has  been  honored  with  public 
oiificcs,  serving  both  as  trustee  of  the  town- 
ship and  as  justice  of  the  peace,  occupying 
the  latter  position  for  nine  years.  He  was 
also  nominee  at  one  time  for  sheriff  on  the 
Democrat  ticket.  Socially  he  is  identified 
with  Barthollow  Lodge,  No.  692,  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  which  he  joined  on  its  organization  and 


in  which  he  has  filled  all  the  offices,  taking 
an  active  part  in  its  work  and  exemplify- 
ing in  his  life  its  helpful  and  beneficent  prin- 
ciples. He  also  is  identified  with  North 
Liberty  Tent,  No.  256,  K.  O.  T.  M.  In  pub- 
lic and  private  life  his  many  estimable  char- 
acteristics have  gained  for  him  the  confi- 
dence, regard  and  friendship  of  his  fellow 
men,  and  as  one  of.  the  leading  and  influen- 
tial citizens  of  Pike  township  he  well  de- 
serves mention  in  the  history  of  his  native 
count}'. 


SAMUEL  T.  VANNATTA.     ' 

Samuel  T.  Vannatta^  who  is  extensively 
engaged  in  the  garden  seed  business,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  in  1835.  His  maternal 
grandfather  came  to  this  state  from  War- 
ren coimty,  New  Jersey,  where  he  became 
a  wealthy  and  influential  citizen,  and  his 
death  occurred  in  Miller  township,  Knox 
county,  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine 
years.  His  father  was  a  Revolutionary 
hero.  Peter  Vannatta,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  wasi  born  in  Warren  county,  New 
Jersey,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1836.  One 
of  his  brothers,  Aaron  Vannatta,  left  home 
and  was  never, heard  from  afterward,  and 
his  sister,  Mrs.  Philip  Case,  is  a  resident  of 
New  Jersey.  Her  husband  is  the  oldest 
commission  merchant  in  New  York  city,  be- 
ing now  eighty-two  years  of  age,  but  he 
still  attends  to  his  business  interests.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  called  to  her  final 
rest  in  1882,  having  reached  the  seventy- 
third  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life.  She 
was  an  active  worker  in  the  Christian  church 
and  was  loved  and  honored  for  her  many 
noble  characteristics. 


o/'^t^^^Z^. 


<:a-<j<>->^  ^^^/A^i^ 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


145 


Samuel  T.  Vannatta,  the  immediate 
subject  of  this  review,  came  with  his  mother 
to  this  localit}'  in  1841,  locating-  on  a  farm 
in  Miller  township,  and  the  educational  ad- 
vantages which  he  enjoyed  in  his  youth, 
were  those  afforded  by  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood.  After  laying  aside 
his  text-books  preparatory  to  embarking  on 
an  active  business  career  he  engaged  in 
farming  on  land  belonging  to  his  grand- 
father, Philip  Weller,  and  after  remaining 
there  for  a  time  he  removed  to  the  farm  pur- 
chased by  himself  and  mother.  In  1895  he 
abandoned  the  tilling  of  the  soil  and  removed 
to  South  Vernon,  Clinton  township.  In 
1888  he  was  elected  one  of  the  county  com- 
missioners, having  been  re-elected  tO'  that 
position  in  .1892,  and  during  both  terms  he 
served  as  president  of  the  board.  While  fill- 
ing that  responsible  position  he  was  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  erection  of  the  via- 
duct at  the  foot  of  Main  street,  and 
many  other  needed  improvements  were 
added  during  his  incumbency.  For  nine 
years  he  served  as  trustee  of  Miller 
township  and  for  one  term  was  land 
appraiser  and  for  two  terms  appraiser 
of  personal  property.  Although  he  does 
not  engage  actively  in  farm  labor,  Mr. 
Vannatta  is  a  large  land  owner,  having  five 
hundred  acres  in  Miller  township,  which  is 
improved)  with  excellent  buildings  and  is 
under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  also 
has  a  farm  in  Monroe  township.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  valuable  property  he  owns  resi- 
dence property  in  South  Vernon,  Dayton 
and  Findlay. 

The  year  1862  witnessed  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Vannatta  and  Miss  Lovina  Hawkins, 
of  Mount  Liberty,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Isaac   Hawkins,   a  prominent   stock   dealer 


and  wealthy  farmer  of  Knox  county.  He 
came  to  this  locality  fromi  Rockingham 
county,  Virginia,  in  a  very  early  day,  and 
he  has  now  reached  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty  years.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Hudles- 
ton  before  her  marriage,  and  was  also  from 
Rockingham  county,  Virginia.  Three  chil- 
dren have  blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Vannatta.  The  eldest,  F.  A.  Vannatta,  is  a 
successful  farmer  of  Miller  township.  He 
married  Miss  Belle  West,  a  daughter  of  Jay 
West,  also  of  Miller  township,  and  they 
have  three  children — Blanche,  Samuel  and 
Charles.  The  second  son,  C.  O.  Vannatta, 
resides  on  the  old  home  in  Miller  township. 
He  married  Miss  Maud  Sperry,  a  daughter 
of  Newton  Sperry,  of  Miller  township,  and 
they  also  have  three  children — Olive,  Enos 
and  Anna.  The  only  daughter  of  the  fam- 
ily, Emeline.,  is  nowi  the  wife  of  Calvin 
Forey,  of  Pleasant  township,  Knox  county, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Isabelle.  In  his 
social  relations  Mr.  Vannatta  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  politically  he 
casts  his  ballot  in  favor  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party. 


LEVI  GRUBB. 

Levi  Grubb  was  born  in  Pike  township 
April  14,  1843,  and  died  on  the  14th  of 
July,  1 90 1.  He  always  resided  in  Knox 
county  and  his  many  excellencies  of  char- 
acter won  for  him  the  trust  and  respect  of 
his  fellow  men.  He  was  reared  in  the  place 
of  his  nativity  and  during  his  youth  became 
familiar  with  farm  work  in  its  various  de- 
partments. The  public  schools  afiforded 
him  his    educational    privileges    and  when 


146 


A    CENTENNIAL    EIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


young  he  also  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
his  knowledge  of  this  business  proving  a 
value  to  him  as  he  carried  on  his  work  in 
later  life,  enabling  him  to  keep  everything 
about  his  place  in  excellent  repair.  In  his 
farming  he  was  progressive,  practical  and 
enterprising,  and  yearly  his  labors  brought 
to  him  a  good  income. 

February  i,  1871,  Mr.  Grubb  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Hannah  Cole,  a  native 
of  Knox  county,  born  June  i,  1854.  Her 
father,  Isaac  Cole,  was  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut and  when  a  young  man  came  tO'  Ohio, 
where  he  met  and  married  Mrs.  Rachel 
Brown,  who  was  also  reared  in  Knox  coun- 
ty, her  people  being  early  settlers  here.  Mrs, 
Grubb  spent  her  girlhood  days  in  Berlin 
township  and  there  obtained  her  education. 
She  was  only  seventeen  years  of  age  when 
she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  "  to  him 
whose  name  introduces  this  review.  They 
became  the  parents  of  three  children  :  Nettie, 
the  wife  O'f  Wilson  Yanger,  a  business  man 
of  Bellville,  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Paul ;  Bertie,  the  wife  of  John  Spohn,  a 
resident  farmer  of  Berlin  township,  and  op- 
erating the  home  farm;  and  Clarence,  who 
is  living  with  his  mother.  She  is  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  acres  of 
good  land,  and  to  its  improvement  she  gives 
her  attention,  supervising  the  work  which 
annually  results  in  good  harvests.  She  is  a 
most  estimable  lady  and  her  circle  of  friends 
is  almost  co-extensive  with  her  circle  of  ac- 
quaintances. Mr.  Grubb  was  a  prominent 
and  influential  citizen.  In  his  business  meth- 
ods he  was  straightforward  and  honorable. 
He  belonged  to  the  Grange,  gave  his  po- 
litical support  to  the  Democracy,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church. 
One  ef  his  marked  characteristics  was  his 


fidelity  to  principle,  and  in  all  life's  relations 
he  commanded  the  warm  regard  and  con- 
fidence of  his  fellow  men. 


BENJAMIN  L.  GRIFFITH. 

A  valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Pike  township  is  the  property 
of  Benjamin  L.  Griffith,  one  of  the  worthy 
citizens  that  Pennsylvania  has  furnished  to 
the  Buckeye  state.  He  was  born  in  Ches- 
ter county,  October  19,  1839,  alnd  is  of 
Welch  lineage.  His  parental  grandfather 
was  Abel  Griffith  and  the  father  of  our 
subject  was  Morris  Griffith,  the  latter  also 
a  native  of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  by  occupation  a  carpenter.  In  1855  he 
came  with  his  family  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Wayne  county,  but  after  a  year's  residence 
removed  to  Pike  township,  Knox  county, 
settling  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  the 
home  of  our  subject  and  which  he  made  his 
place  of  residence  until  his  death.  He  had 
passed  the  seventy-eighth  milestone  on  life's 
journey  when  called  to  his  final  rest.  In 
politics  he  was  a  stanch  Republican,  and  his 
religious  faith  was  indicated  by  his  member- 
ship in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Elizabeth  Sparr,  was  born  in  Chester  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  and  there  remained  until 
with  her  husband  she  came  to  Ohio,  where 
she  died  in  her  eighty-seventh  year.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Sparr,  who 
was  of  German  lineage.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Griffith  were  born  three  sons,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  eldest,  the  second,  Nathan, 
is  now  deceased,  while  ^^'illiam  M.  resides 
four  miles  south  of  Mansfield,  Ohio. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


147 


Benjamin  L.  Griffith  is  now  the  only  liv- 
ing representative  of  the  family  in  Knox 
county.  He  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  came  tO'  this  locality.  He 
had  previously  attended  school  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  here 
he  continued  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
Pike  township.  Upon  the  home  farm  he  be- 
came familiar  with  all  the  work  of  an  agri- 
culturist and  remained  with  his  parents  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  but  in  the  fall  of 
1864  he  left  home,  going  to  Whiteside  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  where  he  remained  from  the  ist 
of  September  of  that  year  until  September, 
1S65.  Through  the  eleven  succeeding  years 
he  resided  in  Knox  county,  and  in  1866 
again  went  to  the  Prairie  state,  where  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade;  later  he  re- 
moved to  Iowa,  s'pending  about  three  years 
in  Tama  and  Benton  counties,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  and  threshing,  and  was  also 
identified  wath  the  building  interests  of  those 
localities.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  returned  to  Ohio  and  located  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives,  but  his  residence  here 
has  not  been  continuous,  for  once  more  he 
returned  to  Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  spent  five  years.  Since  1875,  however, 
he  has  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  the 
improvement  of  the  old  farm  homestead  and 
now  has  a  valuable  tract  of  land  comprising 
a  quarter  section.  He  follows  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  and  his  place  is  an  in- 
dication that  his  efforts  are  meeting  with 
prosperity. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  1867,  Mr.  Grif- 
fith Avedded  Rachel  Hiner,  who  was  born  in 
Ashland  county,  Ohio,  February  17,  1844, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Leonard  and  Mary 
(Spahr)  Hiner,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  former  born  in  Lancaster  coun- 


ty and  the  latter  in  Chester  county.  They 
were  married  in  the  Keystone  state,  and  af- 
terward removed  to  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
subsequently  to  Ashland  county.  In  their 
family  were  five  daughters  and  two  sons, 
Mrs.  Griffith  being  the  fifth  child  and  the 
fourth  daughter.  She  was  reared  in  Mer- 
cer county,  Pennsylvania,  until  four  years 
of  age,  after  which  she  spent  seven  years  in 
Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  and  then  went  to 
Benton  county,  Iowa,  where  she  gave  .her 
hand  in  marriage  to  our  subject.  They 
have  two  sons,  William  M.,  who  wedded 
Grace  Banks,  by  whom  he  has  a  daughter, 
Annie  I.,  and  Calvin  Jay  who  married  Villa 
O'Brien.  They  also  have  a  daughter,  Flor- 
ence L. 

On  questions  of  national  importance  Mr. 
Griffith  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  but  at  local 
elections  he  considers  only  the  capability  of 
the  candidate  and  feels  himself  not  bound 
by  party  ties.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is  serv- 
ing as  class-leader.  He  takes  an  active  part 
and  contributes  liberally  to  its  support  and 
does  all  in  his  power  for  the  promotion  of 
the  cause.  There  is  much  in  his  career  that 
is  commendable,  including  loyalty  in  citi- 
enship,  truthworthiness  in  business  and  hon- 
or in  all  the  relations  of  private  life. 


MAJOR  NATHANIEL  CRITCHFIELD. 

Major  Nathaniel  Critchfield,  one  of  the 
prominent  early  settlers  of  Knox  county,  an 
ex-soldier  of  the  Civil  war  and  at  all  times 
a  loyal  citizen,  is  numbered  among  the  lead- 
ing farmers  of  his  locality.  He  is  a  native 
son  of  Howard  township,  his  birth  having 
here  occurred  on  the  25th  of  February,  1834, 


148 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


and  he  is  of  German  descent.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Nathaniel  Critchfield,  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  state  of  Maryland,  but  in  a  very 
early  day  he  came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
entering  eight  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Howard  township,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  passing  away  in  death  at 
a  ripe  old  age.  He  became  a  very  prominent 
man  in  his  locality,  and  for  many  years  he 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  The 
father  of  our  subject,  Benjamin  Critchfield, 
was  also  a  native  of  Maryland,  but  when  on- 
ly seven  years  of  age  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  the  Buckeye  state.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  located  on  a  farm  in  Howard  town- 
ship, where  he  followed  farming  and  black- 
smithing  for  many  years.  His  life's  labors 
were  ended  in  death  when  he  had  reached 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  In  early  life 
he  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democ- 
racy, but  after  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party  he  joined  its  ranks,  voting  for 
Abraham  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Critchfield  was  married  in  Howard 
township,  Knox  county,  to  Mary  Welker, 
who  also  claimed  Maryland  as  the  state  of 
her  nativity,  as  did  her  father, .  Abraham 
Welker,  and  the  family  was  of  German  de- 
scent. Unto  this  worthy  couple  were:  born 
nine  children,  but  only  two  of  the  number 
grew  to  mature  years.  The  mother  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  when  she  had  reached 
the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 

Nathaniel  Critchfield,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  was  reared  to  manhood  on 
his  father's  farm  in  this  locality,  and  the  ear- 
ly educational  advantages  which  he  enjoyed 
were  those  afforded  by  the  primitive  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  which  he  was  only  per- 
mitted to  attend  during  a  few  months  of  the 
year.     Later,  however,  he  attended  a  select 


school  in  Mount  Vernon,  which  was  taught 
by  R.  R.  Sloan.  In  1856,  when  a  young 
man,  he  undertook  the  long  and  tedious  jour- 
ney across  the  plains,  but  after  reaching 
Iowa  the  company  of  wdiich  he  was  a  mem- 
ber disbanded,  and  he  then  returned  to  his 
old  home  in  Knox  county.  The  year  fol- 
lowing his  marriage  the  Civil  war  was  in- 
augurated, and  on  the  17th  of  October,  1861, 
Mr.  Critchfield  became  a  member  of  Com- 
pany A,  Sixty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, entering  the  ranks  as  a  private,  but 
he  soon  received  his  commission  as  principal 
musician  of  his  regiment,  serving  in  that 
capacity  for  seventeen  months.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  which 
continued  for  eight  days,  was  in  the  battle 
of  Shiloh  and  also'  took  part  in  many  of  the 
other  important  engagements  of  the  war.  On 
three  occasions  he  was  slightly  wounded, 
but  never  seriously,  and  after  the  close  of 
hostilities,  with  an  honorable  military  career, 
he  returned  to  his  home  to  again  take  up  the 
duties  of  civil  life.  He  has  ever  since  de- 
voted his  attention  to  general  farming.  He 
follows  advanced  and  progressive  methods 
of  agriculture,  and  his  place  is  neat  and 
thrifty  in  appearance,  owing  to  his  diligent 
labors  and  careful  supervision. 

In  October,  i860,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Critchfield  and  Miss  Ellen  E.  Cassil, 
who  was  born  in  Howard  township,  October 
14,  1836,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Matilda 
(Critchfield)  Cassil.  The  father  came  from 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  to  the 
Buckeye  state  in  a  very  early  day,  locating 
in  Howard  township,  Knox  county,  and 
here  his  remaining  days  were  passed,  dy- 
ing at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  The 
mother  was  a  native  daughter  of  Knox  coun- 
ty, and  she  reached  the  ripe  old  age  of  eigh- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


ty-four  years.  She  was  an  earnest  Christian 
woman,  and  was  a  worthy  and  valued  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Critchfield  also  holds  membership.  Mr.  and 
]\Irs.  Cassil  became  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, two  daughters  and  a  son,  as  follows: 
Mrs.  Critchfield;  James  R.,  deceased;  and 
Nancy  J.,  who  has  also  passed  to  her  final 
rest.  The  union  of  our  subject  and  wife 
was  blessed  with  two  children,  but  both  have 
now  passed  away, — Johanna  B.,  whO'  died 
in  her  twenty-sixth  year,  and  one  who  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Critchfield  is  a  member  of 
LeRoy  Baker  Post,  No.  150,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Danville,  in  which  he  has  held  many  of  the 
offices,  and  for  thirty-five  years  he  has  also 
been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  his 
membership  being  with  the  lodge  at  Dan- 
ville. 


JOHN  C.  DURBIN. 

Many  years  have  passed  since  John  C. 
Durbin  became  a  resident  of  Knox  county 
and  he  has  therefore  witnessed  much  of  its 
development  and  progress  as  it  emerged 
from  a  frontier  settlement  to  a  co^mty  rank- 
ing with  the  best  in  this  great  common- 
wealth. He  feels  just  pride  in  what  has 
been  accomplished  and  in  the  work  of  im- 
provement he  has  borne  his  part  as  a  loyal 
and  progressive  citizen. 

Mr.  Durbin  was  born  in  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania,  April  27,  1839,  and 
is  the  fifth  son  of  ten  children  born  to  John 
A.  and  Margaret  (Logston)  Durbin.  He 
was  only  five  years  of  age  when  the  parents 
came  with  their  children  to  Knox  county 
and  there  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer 


life  was  reared.  He  lived  in  Howard  town- 
ship and  attended  the  district  schools  of  the 
neighborhood,  and  in  the  summer  months 
worked  in  the  fields  planting,  plowing  and 
harvesting.  Here  he  resided  until  his  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  on  the  20th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1863,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Margaret  Colopy,  a  native  of  Coshoc- 
ton county,  Ohio,  born  August  22,  1838, 
her  parents  being  Thomas  and  Margaret 
(Bowman)  Colopy.  They  were  natives  of 
Ireland,  were  married  in  the  Emerald  Isle 
and  one  child  was  born  to  them  ere  their 
emigration  to  America.  Mrs.  Durbin  is 
their  fourth  daughter  and  seventh  child. 
She  was  reared  in  Linton  township,  Cochoc- 
ton  county,  the  days  of  her  girlhood  being 
passed  as  that  of  most  of  the  girls  of  that 
period.  She  attended  the  public  schools  and 
became  familiar  with  the  different  depart- 
ments of  housework  under  the  direction  of 
her  mother. 

At  the  time  of  their  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Durbin  began  their  domestic  life  in 
Howard  township,  Knox  county,  and  upon 
their  first  farm  remained  for  six  years,  after 
which  they  spent  thirteen  years  upon  an- 
other farm  in  the  same  township.  They 
next  removed,  in  March,  1883,  to  the  farm 
which  has  since  been  their  home.  Here  Mr. 
Durbin  owns  and  operates  ninety-seven  acres 
of  land,  all  of  which  is  under  cultivation. 
There  are  good  buildings,  including  a  new 
and  commodious  barn,  upon  the  place,  and 
the  farm  is  divided  intO'  fields  of  various 
sizes  by  well  kept  fences.  His  is  one  of  the 
most  attractive  homes  in  the  county.  The 
cultivation  bestowed  upon  his  land  results  in 
securing  for  him  rich  harvests  and  annually 
his  income  increases. 


50 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Durbin  have  been 
born  eight  children  :  Thomas  B.,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Jane  Durbin,  a  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Durbin;  Francis  J.,  who  wedded 
Agatha  Swingle,  a  daughter  of  Christ 
Swingle;  Mary  C,  the  wife  of  Clement  E. 
Durbin;  Elizabeth  B.,  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Grassbaugh ;  Peter,  Ludjer,  Raymond  and 
Sylvester,  all  of  whom  are  still  with  their 
parents.  The  family  circle  is  yet  unbroken 
by  the  hand  of  death  and  the  youngest  child 
is  now  twenty-one  years  of  age.  All  have 
been  well  educated  and  three  of  the  numl^er 
have  been  successful  school  teachers,  while 
one  of  the  sons  is  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  in  Mount  Vernon.  The  family  are 
all  communicants  of  St.  Luke's  Catholic 
church  at  Danville  and  Mr.  Durbin  took  an 
active  part  in  erecting  the  new  house  of 
worship  there.  He  has  usually  given  his  po- 
litical support  to  the  Democracy  but  has 
never  sought  or  desired  political  offices,  be- 
lieving that  it  would  interfere  with  his  busi- 
ness whereby  he  is  winning  a  comfortable 
competence. 


OTIS  SEARL. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  one  to 
whorn  the  words  of  the  poet  are  particularly 
applicable :  "A  frrend  to  truth,  of  soul  sin- 
cere ;  in  action  thoughtful  and  in  honor  clear, 
who  broke  no  promise,  served  no  private 
end;  who  gained  no  title  and  who  lost  no 
friend."  He  was  ennobled  by  himself  and 
the  approval  of  his  own  conscience,  and  in 
his  death,  on  the  12th  of  February,  1901, 
Knox  county  lost  one  of  its  honored  pioneer 
citizens  and  one  whose  life  has  been  one  of 
signal    usefulness    and    honest    worth.     He 


came  to  the  county  in  an  early  day  and  lo- 
cated on  the  farm,  where  his  death  occurred, 
having  made  that  place  his  home  for  more 
than  half  a  century,  and  having  ever  com- 
manded the  unequivocal  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  the  community.  It  is  signally  con- 
sistent that  a  memorial  tribute  to  him  be  in- 
corporated in  this  publication. 

Mr.  Searl  was  born  in  the  town  of  Low- 
ville,  Levi-is  county,  New  York,  on  the  28th 
of  March,  1819,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm 
in  that  immediate  locality.  In  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county  he  secured  that 
preliminary  training  which  so  effectively 
served  as  the  basis  of  that  broad  fund  of 
knowledge  which  he  later  gained  by  person- 
al application  extensive  and  judicious  read- 
ing and  by  long  association  with  the  prac- 
tical affairs  of  life.  He  was  a  man  of  dis- 
tinct individuality  and  marked  intellectual 
strength,  and  these  attributes  naturally  gave 
him  an  influential  position  in  the  commun- 
ity. In  the  year  1849  M*"-  Searl  came  to 
Ohio  and  located  in  Wayne  township,  Knox 
county,  on  the  farm  which  thereafter  con- 
tinued to  be  his  abiding  place  until  death 
placed  its  seal  upon  his  mortal  lips.  He 
first  purchased  a  tract  of  fifty  acres,  and  he 
later  added  to  the  same  until  he  at  one  time 
owned  an  estate  of  nearly  two  hundred  acres. 
Upon  the  homestead  he  made  improvements 
of  admirable  order,  including  the  fine  resi- 
dence where  his  widow  still  resides,  making 
the  farm  one  of  the  best  in  this  section  of 
the  state.  He  developed  the  farm  from 
what  was  practically  a  sylvan  wild,  and  here 
gave  his  attention  to  general  agricul- 
ture, stock-raising  and  dairying",  having 
had  a  well-equipped  cheese  dairy,  in 
which  he  continued  to  manufacture  the 
highest   grade   of  products   for   more   than 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  was  a 
man  of  initiative  power,  and  thus  ever 
took  advantage  of  new  and  improved  ap- 
pliances and  methods  in  the  conducting-  of 
his  business  enterprises,  thus  conserving  a 
success  above  the  average.  His  homestead, 
which  now  comprises  eighty  acres,  may  well 
be  pointed  out  as  a  model  farm,  and  it  will 
ever  remain  a  memorial  to  his  ability  and 
progressive  methods. 

In  his  political  adherency  Mr.  Searl  was 
stanchly  arrayed  in  suppo-rt  of  the  principles 
and  policies  of  the  Republican  party,  his  con- 
victions in  this  line  being  well  fortified,  as 
were  they  on  all  other  matters  of  import, 
and  his  eligibility  for  public  office  was  thor- 
oughly appreciated  in  the  community,  as  is 
evident  from  the  fact  that  he  was  called 
upon  to  serve  as  township  trustee  and  in 
other  local  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility. 
He  passed  away  in  the  fulness  of  years  and 
well  earned  honors,  and  his  memory  will  be 
held  in  lasting  veneration  by  those  who  came 
within  the  sphere  of  his  influence.  His  com- 
plete conversion  to  the  Christian  faith  was 
an  incident  of  the  last  year  of  his  life,  in 
January,  1900.  He  also  became  a  great 
reader  of  the  Bible,  and  thus  continued  until 
his  eyesight  failed,  after  which  his  wife  con- 
tinued to  read  to  him  from  the  blessed  book. 
He  would  often  repeat  the  Lord's  prayer. 
On  account  of  feeble  health  be  never  became 
a  member  of  a  church,  and  his  last  days  were 
peacefully  passed  and  were  brightened  by 
his  deep  trust  in  his  divine  Master. 

Mr.  Searl  was  twice  married.  On  the 
6th  of  June,  1849,  Miss  Pamelia  Livingston 
became  his  wife  and  she  passed  away  on  the 
1 8th  of  October,  1891,  there  having  been  no 
children  of  this  union.  On  the  8th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1893.  was  solemnized  his  marriage  to 


Miss  Lena  Howard,  who  was  born  in  Mor- 
row county,  Ohio,  the  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Ann  Howard,  both  of  whom  now  make 
their  home  with  Mrs.  Searl,  each  being  eigh- 
ty-two years  of  age  at  the  time  of  this  writ- 
ing (March,  1902).  Mrs.  Searl  resides  on 
the  beautiful  homestead  farm,  taking  a 
prominent  part  in  the  social  life  of  the  com- 
munity and  being  held,  in  the  highest  esteem 
bv  a  large  circle  of  devoted  friends. 


JACOB  B.  MYERS. 


Among  the  worthy  citizens  that  Penn- 
sylvania has  furnished  to  Ohio  is  Jacob  Ben- 
jamin Myers,  who  for  many  years  has  car- 
ried on  general  farming  in  Knox  county, 
but  is  now  living  retired  in  Mount  Vernon, 
enjoying  a  well  merited  rest.  He  was  born 
in  Bedford  county,  of  the  Keystone  state, 
July  24,  1828,  a  son  of  Jesse  and  Eleanor 
(Louderbaugh)  Myers.  The  family  is  of 
German  lineage  and  was  founded  in  Amer- 
ica by  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  who 
sailed  from  Germany  and  took  up  his  abode 
in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  when  that 
region  was  just  being  opened  up  to  civiliza- 
tion. There  he  spent  his  remaining  days, 
but  his  wife  afterward  died  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio. 

Jesse  Myers,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Bedford  county,  and  after  ar- 
riving at  years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Elean- 
or Louderbaugh,  also  a  native  of  the  same 
county.  In  1837,  accompanied  by  their  fam- 
ily, they  started  westward  and  took  up  their 
abode  in  Clinton  township,  Knox  county, 
but  afterward  removed  to  Pleasant  town- 
ship, where  they  remained  until  called  to  the 


152 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


home  beyond.  The  father  passed  away  in 
1869,  but  the  mother  long  survived  him  and 
died  in  1897.  Mr.  Myers  was  a  farmer  and 
also  engaged  in  digging  wells.  He  dug 
many  of  the  early  wells  of  Alount  Vernon 
and  was  an  active  factor  in  reclaiming  the 
wild  land  for  purposes  of  civilization,  carry- 
ing on  his  farming  operations  quite  exten- 
sively. His  industry,  his  honorable  business 
methods  and  his  capable  management  made 
him  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the 
community  and  he  became  widely  and  favor- 
ably known.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers 
were  born  seven  children :  Mary  Ann,  the 
deceased  wife  of  Lloyd  McDonald;  Eliza- 
beth Ann,  the  wife  of  Harvey  Branyan; 
Catharine ;  Jacob,  the  subject  of  this  review  ; 
John,  who  was  the  treasurer  and  county 
recorder  of  Knox  county,  and  was  for  many 
years  very  prominent  in  public  affairs ;  Eliza, 
who  resides  in  Mount  Vernon;  and  Jesse 
F.,  who  is  foreman  in  the  paint  shops  of  the 
Cleveland,  Akron  &  Columbus  Railroad,  in 
Mount  Vernon. 

In  the  public  schools  near  his  home  Jacob 
Benjamin  Myers,  whose  name  begins  this 
record,  pursued  his  education,  and  upon  the 
home  farm  he  was  trained  to  the  work  of  the 
fields.  Like  most  young  men  when  starting 
out  upon  an  independent  career  he  desired  a 
companion  and  helpmate  for  the  journey  of 
life  and  chose  J\Iiss  Martha  Ann  Young,  the 
wedding  being  celebrated  on  the  29th  of  No- 
vember, 1855.  The  lady  was  a  daughter  of 
Reese  and  EJiza  (Gates)  Young,  and  died 
May  14,  1885.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Myers  married  Margaret,  the  daughter  of 
Reuben  and  Sarah  (Good)  Dutt.  She  was 
born  April  19,  1850,  and  was  married  No- 
vember 18,  1884.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 


her  mother  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  In 
1870  they  removed  to  Marshallville,  ^^'ayne 
county,  Ohio>  and  later  went  to  Medina 
county,  this  state,  where  the  mother  died 
June  15,  1876.  Subsequently  the  father  be- 
came a  resident  of  Gibson,  Kansas,  where 
his  life's  labors  were  ended  on  the  i8th  of 
April,  1882.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children :  Eliza,  deceased ;  Cortland  B., 
who  lives  in  Akron,  Ohio;  Anna,  the  widow 
of  Oscar  Carr  and  a  resident  of  Akron ; 
Sarah,  who  is  the  widow  of  Jacob  Hess  and 
makes  j-icr  home  in  Cleveland;  Margaret, 
now  Mrs.  Myers;  George,  deceased,  late  of 
Mount  Vernon;  Nathan,  who  is  a  resident 
of  Kansas;  Reuben,  who  makes  his  home 
in  Akron:  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  George 
Drisback,  of  Bangor,  Pennsylvania.  The 
father  of  this  family  was  a  blacksmith  and 
carriage-maker  and  his  life  was  one  of  in- 
dustry and  honest  toil.  For  ten  years  he 
was  postmaster  at  jlia,s  old  Pennsylvania' 
home.  His  son,  Cortland,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Civil  war,  and  during  his  service  was 
taken  prisoner  and  sent  to  Andersonville, 
where  he  was  incarcerated  for  eighteen 
months. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  are  members 
of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in 
Mount  Vernon.  Politically  Mr.  Myers  is  a 
life-long  Democrat,  and  has  served  many 
years  in  important  public  capacities. 
Throughout  the  years  of  his  active  business 
career  he  was  connected  with  agricultural  in- 
terests in  Knox  county.  He  was  only  about 
ten  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his  par- 
ents to  Ohio,  and  during  his  youth  he  shared 
with  the  family  in  many  of  the  hardships  in- 
cident to  life  on  the  frontier.  He  has  done 
much  to^vard  clearing  and  developing  his 
portion  of  the  county  and  lived  in  his  present 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


neighborhood  wiien  there  was  nothing  but  a 
great  wilderness  aU  aronnd  him,  there  being 
but  two  other  liouses  on  the  Gambier  road 
between  him  and  tlie  city,  which  then  con- 
sisted of  one  store.  In  addition  to  tlie  home 
he  also  owns  what  is  known  as  the  old  In- 
dian field,  adjoining  the  city,  npoii  which 
for  many  years  the  tribe  maintained  an  In- 
dian village.  As  the  years  have  passed  he 
has  aided  in  pushing  forward  the  wheels  of 
progress  and  his  labors  have  been  very  bene- 
ficial m  developing  this  portion  of  the  state. 
He  has  taken  just  pride  in  what  has  been 
accomplished  in  the  county  and  well  does  he 
deserve  to  be  numbered  among  its  leading 
and  influential  citizens. 


ROBERT  A.  KXOX. 


Among  the  most  competent  and  success- 
ful educators  of  central  Ohio  is  Robert  A. 
Kno.x,  who  for  a  number  of  years  has  been 
an  active  representative  of  the  schools  of 
Fredericktown.  He  was  born  in  Holmes 
connty,  Ohio,  December  lo,  1856,  and  is  a 
son  of  Christian  and  Elizabeth  (Jarvis) 
Kno.x.  On  the  paternal  side  he  is  of  Scotch 
and  Spanish  descent.  His  grandparents. 
John  and  IMary  (  Bitner)  Knox,  were  both 
natives  of  Center,  county,  Pennsylvania, 
whence  they  removed  to  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  at  an  early  day.  the  former  bringing 
with  him  seventy-five  dollars  with  which  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land.  Locating 
thereon  he  devoted  his  remaining  days  to  its 
cultivation,  making  additional  purchases  un- 
til he  was  the  owner  of  eight  hundred  acres 
of  land,  he  and  his  wife  winning  for  them- 
selves a  place  among  the  representative  pio- 


neers of  the  comnnuiitv.  Their  son.  Chris- 
tian Knox,  was  born  in  Holmes  county,  in 
February,  1829,  and  there  grew  to  man- 
hood, assisting  in  the  cultivation  of  the  fields 
from  a  youthful  age.  In  1853  he  was  mar- 
ried io  Miss  Elizabeth  Jarvis,  a  daughter  of 
John  Jarvis  and  a  granddaughter  of  John 
Jarvis.  The  latter  was  of  English  descent 
and  fought  for  the  cause  of  liberty  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  while  the  former  de- 
fended his  country's  rights  in  the  War 
of  1812.  He  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 

Mr.  .-ind  Mrs.  Knox  resided  in  Holmes 
county  until  1865,  when  they  came  tc  this 
county,  settling  upon  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  in  Morris  township. 
As  his  financial  resources  increased  he  added 
to  his  property  until  he  became  the  owner, 
of  three  hundred  and  seventy-three  acres 
of  valuable  land,  but  seventy-seven  acres  of 
this  now  belongs  to  our  subject.  He  is  an 
enterprising  farmer  whose  long  connection 
with  this  department  of  labor  has  well  quali- 
fied him  for  successfully  carrying  on  this 
work.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  a  strong 
anti-slavery  man  and  took  an  active  part  in 
raising  funds  for  the  prosecution  of  hos- 
tilities which  were  to  result  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Union  upon  a  firmer  basis  than 
ever  before.  He  now  votes  with  the  Democ- 
racy and  has  served  as  trustee  of  his  town- 
ship. He  belongs  to  the  Christian  church, 
and  is  a  man  of  genuine  worth  of  character. 
His  wife  is  also  living  and  like  her  husband 
enjoys  the  warm  regard  of  many  friends. 
They  had  but  two  children,  Robert  A.,  of 
this  review  ;  and  Martha,  the-  wife  of  Joseph 
Hall,   of   Berlin  township. 

Mr.  Knox  of  this  review  was  surrounded 
by  the  invigorating  influence  of  nature  in  his 


154 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


youth  for  he  was  reared  upon  the  farm  and 
the  free,  untrammeled  life  brought  to  him 
a  vigorous  physique.  His  preliminary  edu- 
cation, acquired  in  the  district  schools,  was 
supplemented  by  study  in  the  high  school 
of  Fredericktown  and  by  one  term's 
attendance  at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, at  Delaware.  Ohio.  In  1876  he 
began  teaching  in  the  district  schools  and 
was  thus  engaged  for  ten  years,  when  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  teacher  in  the  gramniiar 
room  of  the  schools  of  Fredericktown,  and 
has  since  sensed  in  this  capacity,  his  labors 
proving  highly  satisfactory  to  the  citizens  O'f 
the  place  as  well  as  to  the  pupils.  He  is 
particularly  thorough  in  his  instruction  and 
requires  good  work  from  his.  pupils,  realiz- 
ing that  in  their  school  days  they  are  laying 
in  habits  and  knowledge,  the  foundation  for, 
the  success  or  failure  of  their  later  lives,  so 
that  he  endeavors  to  equip  them  well  for 
subsequent  duties. 

In  June,  1880,  he  wedded  Miss  Effie  C. 
Irwin,  a  native  of  Berlin  township  and  a 
daughter  of  George  Irwin,  now  deceased. 
She  also  was  a  teacher  for  some  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  his 
wife  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  his 
political  views  he  is  a  stalwart  Democrat. 
Their  iiome  is  celebrated  for  its  gracious 
hospitality  and  they  are  welcomed  into  the 
circles  of  society  where  worth  and  intelli- 
gence are  the  passports. 


S.  B.  POTTER,  M.  D. 

To  minister  to  the  sick  and  suffering,  to 
carry  cheer,  sympathy  and  aid  to  those  in 
pain  and  affliction — can  a  nobler  field  of  use- 
fulness be  found  ?    Perhaps  no  one  can  quite 


fill  the  place  of  the  Christian  physician  as 
he  goes  from  home  to  home  in  a  com- 
munity, carrying  with  him  an  atmos- 
phere of  strength,  helpfulness  and  hope. 
The  loved  and  venerated  family  physician 
in  many  a  household  in  Fredericktown  and 
the  surrounding  country  is  Dr.  S.  B.  Potter, 
who  has  attained  distinction  and  wide- 
spread celebrity  for  his  skill  and  research 
during  the  forty-eight  years  of  his  practice 
here,  and  who  is  a  valued  member  of  several 
medical  associations. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  South  Bloom- 
field,  Morrow  county,  November  7,  1828, 
one  of  the  thirteen  children  of  Lemuel  and 
Anna  (Terry)  Potter.  His  grandfather, 
Jeremiah  Potter,  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  at  the  time  the  colonists  at- 
tempted to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  British  op- 
pression he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Amer- 
ican army,  and  with  his  sons,  Jeremiah  and 
Fisher,  rendered  valiant  service  for  the 
cause  of  liberty.  He  married  a  Miss  Wind- 
sor and  for  many  years  they  resided  in 
Rhode  Island,  but  in  1781,  after  the  war 
was  practically  ended,  they  removed  to 
Herkimer  county.  New  York,  where  they 
spent  their  remaining  days. 

Among  their  children  was  Lemuel  Pot- 
ter, the  Doctor's  father.  He  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island  in  1776 — the  year  in  which 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  writ- 
ten. When  the  country  became  engaged  in 
a  second  war  with  England  in  1812,  he  be- 
came a  captain  in  the  American  anny,  and 
was  stationed  at  Sackett's  Harbor.  In  Herki- 
mer county  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna 
Terry,  and  in  1814  they  started  for  Ohio, 
spending  one  year  in  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Knox  county,  after  which  they  removed  to 
Sparta.     There  the  mother's  death  occurred 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


155 


in  1849,  ^"d  ii^  1862  the  father  removed 
to  a  farm  three  miles  south  of  Frederick- 
town,  where  he  died  in  i860.  He  made 
farming  his  Hfe  occupation  and  acquired  a 
comfortable  competence.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat,  and  socially  he  was  connected 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  belonged 
to  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  held  of- 
fice for  a  number  of  years,  and  he  was  ever 
a  man  of  the  highest  respectability.  Of  his 
thirteen  children,  four  yet  survive:  T.  R., 
who  is  a  practicing  physician  of  Oletha,  Kan- 
sas; J.  W.,  a  resident  of  Licking  county, 
Ohio:  Samantha  J-,  the  widow  of  Seaman 
Wright,  of  Wayne  township;  and  the  Doc- 
tor, who  is  the  youngest. 

Dr.  Potter,  of  this  review,  was  reared  in 
his  parents'  home,  and  in  the  common 
schools  beg"an  his  education,  which  was  con- 
tinued in  Corlett's  Academy  in  Frederick- 
town,  and  in  Norwalk  College.  The  ele- 
mental strength  of  his  character  was  early 
manifest  in  the  fact  that  he  paid  his  own 
way  through  college.  He  began  teaching  at 
the  age  of  twenty  and  thus  he  laid  the  foun- 
dation for  his  later  advancement  in  profes- 
sional life.  In  1850  he  began  reading  med- 
icine with  his  brother,  Dr.  T.  R.  Potter,  and 
in  the  winter  season  he  taught  school  in  or- 
der to  meet  his  expenses.  In  the  fall  of  1852 
he  entered  the  Jefiferson  Medical  College,  at 
Philadelpjliia,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1854.  and  in  the  same  spring  he  opened  an 
office  in  Fredericktown,  wiiere  for  forty- 
eight  years  he  has  continuously  engaged  in 
practice,  his  patronage  being  large  and 
Ir.crative.  An  innate  desire  to-  do  his  best, 
to  reach  jterfection  as  near  as  possible,  has 
ever  been  manifest  in  his  professional  ca- 
reer, making  him  a  student  of  the  books  and 
magazines    that  set    forth    the    discoveries 


made  each  year  and  giving  the  advanced 
thought  and  improved  methods  which  have 
led  to  the  present  proficiency  and  skill  of 
medical  practitioners.  In  1872  he  took  a 
post-graduate  course  in  Jefferson  Medical 
College. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  1855,  Dr.  Potter 
married  Miss  Ellen  B.  Leonard,  a  native  of 
Knox  county  and  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Byron 
Leonard,  who  was  at  one  time  the  repre- 
sentative from  his  district  in  the  state  legis- 
lature and  later  was  warden  of  the  state 
penitentiary.  He  was  a  very  influential  and 
prominent  citizen  and  was  widely  and  fa- 
■\'o-rably  known.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Abbie  Lewis.  For  sixteen  years 
Dr.  Potter  and  his  wife  lived  happily  to- 
gether and  were  then  separated  by  the  hand 
of  death,  the  wife  being  called  to  the  home 
beyond.  She  left  two  children:  Anna,  the 
wife  of  T.  W.  Galleher,  chief  freight  agent 
of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  Company, 
at  Baltimore,  Maryland;  and  Nellie  A.,  at 
home.  In  1872  the  Doctor  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Delia 
M.  Burns,  the  widow  of  Dr.  Alfred  Burns 
and  a  daughter  of  Dr.  A.  W.  Sweatland. 
Her  death  occurred  Januarv  27,    1901. 

Dr.  Potter  has  always  exercised  his  right 
of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  Democracy.  For  eighteen  years 
he  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board, 
and  the  cause  of  education  found  in  him 
a  warm  friend,  ever  ready  to  ad\-ance  the  in- 
terests of  the  schools.  Other  than  this  iie 
has  always  refused  public  office.  Socially 
he  is  identified  with  Wayne  Lodge,  No.  303, 
K.  of  P.,  and  in  the  line  of  his  profession 
with  the  Northern  Ohio  Medical  Associa- 
tion and  the  American  Medical  Association. 
He  belongs  to  the  Baptist  church,  and  for  a 


'56 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


number  of  years  has  held  office  therein.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  the  greatest  usefulness 
to  his  fellow  men,  and  has  been  characterized 
by  unflagging  devotion  to  his  professional 
duty.  He  has  the  strictest  regard  for  the 
ethics  of  the  profession,  and  as  a  man  and 
citizen  his  life  is  above  reproach. 


URIAH  C.  WORKMAN. 

This  prominent  citizen  of  Buckeye  City, 
Union  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  is  a 
reputable  and  successful  undertaker  and  fur- 
niture dealer,  and  has  served  his  townsmen 
ably  as  mayor  and  in  other  official  capacities. 
He  was  born  in  Howard  township,  Knox 
county,  November  i8,  1851,  a  son  of  J-ames 
AVorkman,  who'  was  born  in  Union  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Ohio,  jNIarch  26,  1828, 
and  married  there. 

Joseph  Workman,  father  of  James  and 
grandfather  of  Uriah  Workman,  was  born 
in  Maryland  and  came  to  Knox  county  about 
181 3  and  located  in  Union  township,  where 
he  owned  a  tract  of  land  which  embraced  the 
present  site  of  Buckeye  City.  He  died  in 
1852,  and  is  buried  in  the  Workman  cem- 
etery, which  is  on  sections  6  and  7,  Union 
township.  He  was  of  German  ckscent,  and 
his  first  American  ancestor  was  one  of  three 
brothers  who  came  early  from  Germany  to 
Maryland.  Four  settlers  of  the  name  came 
to  Union  township  about  1813.  two  broth- 
ers named  Stephen  and  Joseph  antl  two 
brothers  of  another  family  named  David  and 
Abraham.  Joseph  and  Stephen  remained  in 
Union  township,  David  went  to  Howard 
township.  Knox  county,  and  .Abraham  set- 
tled   finallT    in    Coshocton    countv.    Ohio. 


James  Workman,  son  of  Joseph  Workman, 
married  Mary  A.  Rolston,  a  native  of  Har- 
rison township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  whose 
parents  came  from  Virginia.  She  died  in 
1S74.  Rev.  James  Workman  is  living  in 
Brown  township,  Knox  county.  They  had 
five  sons  and  a  daughter,  all  of  whom  grew 
up,  married  and  had  children.  Frank,  the 
youngest,  was  accidentally  killed.  Silas  H. 
and  J.  C.  live  in  Berlin  township.  Knox 
county.  Alonzo  R.  lives  in  Brown  town- 
ship, Knox  county.  Alice  married  A.  Helser 
and  lives  in  Brown  township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  eldest  of 
his  father's  family,  was  only  a  year  old  when 
his  parents  settled  in  Brown  township,  where 
he  was  reared  and  educated  in  public  schools. 
His  educational  proficiency  was  so  satisfac- 
tory that  he  was  early  in  life  employed  to 
teach  two  terms  of  school  in  Brown  town- 
ship. He  remained  under  his  father's  roof 
until  September  21,  1873:  he  married  Bar- 
bara Workman,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
granddaughter  of  David  Workman,  who  has 
been  referred  to  as  a  pioneer.  Mrs.  Work- 
man was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  How- 
ard township,  Knox  county. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  \\orkman  lo- 
cated in  BroAvn  township,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  devoting  himself  to  farming. 
He  removed  thence  tO'  Pike  township,  where 
he  bought  a  farm,  on  which  he  lived  three 
years  or  until  he  came  to  Buckeye  City,  then 
known  as  Roseville,  and  embarked  in  the 
hardware  trade,  in  which  he  continued  suc- 
cessfully for  twenty  years.  Eventually  he 
bought  out  an  old  established  undertaking 
business,  which  he  conducted  in  connection 
with  his  hardware  store  until  two  years  ago, 
when  he  disjXJsed  of  his  hardware  interest 
and  ]nit  in  a  line  of  furniture.     In  1892  he 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


157 


took  lessons  in  embalming-  and  holds  a  di- 
ploma as  an  expert  in  that  art.  His  trade 
is  large  and  lucrative  and  as  a  business  man 
he  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. During-  the  first  administration  of 
President  Cle\-eland  he  filled  the  office  of 
postmaster.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Buck- 
eye City  in  1894  and  by  re-election  has  held 
the  office  continuously  since.  He  has  been 
called  to  other  important  local  offices,  and 
has  filled  them  all  with  ability,  discretion 
and  the  strictest  integrity.  Politicallly  he  is 
a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  German  Baptist  church,  in  wbich  his 
father  is  a  minister  and  in  which  his  grand- 
father Workman  was  also  a  minister.  His 
son,  Clifford  A.  Workman,  born  July  7, 
1882,  assists  him  in  his  business  and  is  a 
young  man  of  much  ability  and  promise. 


FRANCIS  M.  STILLWELL. 

Francis  Marion  Stillwell,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  livery  business  in  Fredericktown,  was 
for  many  years  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  Kno^x  county,  and  is  widely  and  fa- 
vorably known.  He  is  one  of  Ohio's  native 
sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Perry 
township,  jMorrow  county,  on  the  27th  of 
January,  1836.  He  represents  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  this  state.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Obediah  Stillwell,  came  to 
Ohio  from  Virginia  and  entered  land  from 
the  government.  He  then  gave  his  attention 
to  its  in-iprovement  and  developed  a  good 
farm.  He  died  April  8,  1850,  while  his 
wife,  Mrs.  Sarah  (\\'arford)  Stillwell,  lived 
to  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  two  years,  six 
months  and  nineteen  days.   She  was  a  highly 


respected  A\oman  and  \\-as  widely  known  in 
Knox  county. 

Their  son,  Joseph  Stillwell,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  with  his  parents  came  to  the 
Buckeye  state  when  fourteen  years  of  age. 
Here  he  was  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of 
pioneer  life,  and  to  farm  work  he  always 
devoted  his  energies.  As  a  companion  and 
helpmate  for  the  journey  of  life  he  chose 
Mrs.  Mary  (Markey)  Wilhelm,  who  was 
born  near  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  in  early 
womanhood  married  a  Mr.  Jacob  Wilhelm. 
After  his  death  she  became  the  wife  of  Jo- 
seph Stillwell,  and  untO'  them  were  born  five 
children :  Melvina,  Jeremiah,  Jacob,  Elias 
and  Francis  Marion. 

The  last  named  pursued  his  education  in 
the  district  school  near  his  home,  where  he 
mastered  the  common  branches  of  English 
learning.  His  training  at  farm  work  was 
not  meager,  for  at  an  early  age  he  began 
work  in  his  father's  fields  and  assisted  there 
from  the  time  of  spring  plantiiag  until  crops 
were  harvested  in  the  autumn,  but  this  ex- 
perience proved  of  value  to  him  when  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account.  He  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  for  many  years,  and  suc- 
cessfully tilled  the  soil,  his  labors  bringing 
to  him  good  harvests.  In  the  spring  of  1,901, 
however,  he  abandoned  farming  and  locat- 
ing in  Fredericktown  established  a  livery 
stable,  which  he  is  now  successfully  conduct- 
ing.   - 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1855,  Mr.  Still- 
well was  united'  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cath- 
erine Shell,  a  daughter  of  Christian  and 
Margaret  (Weaver)  Shell,  who  came  to 
America  from  Wurtcmberg,  Germany. 
Eight  children  have  been  born  unto  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife:  John  V.:  Wilbert  E. ; 
Sarah ;    Lot    C. ;    Herma,    now    deceased ; 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


Obie:  ^laggie  C. :  and  Effie,  deceased.  Of 
this  family.  Lot  C.  is  now  a  successful  at- 
torney. He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  in  the  Mount  Vernon  high  school 
and  then  engaged  in  teaching  for  three  years. 
In  the  meantime  he  read  law  at  home  under 
the  direction  of  the  Hon.'W.  M.  Koons,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1891,  while  in 
1899  he  was  licensed  to  practice  in  the 
United  States  courts.  He  had  become  a  very 
capable  lawyer,  and  has  a  distinctively  repre- 
sentative clientage.  He  was  married  No- 
vember 21,  1 89 1,  to  Miss  Gertrude  Blair, 
and  they  now  have  three  interesting  chil- 
dren, Wendall,  Madeline  and  Ruth.  ]\Ir. 
Stilhvell,  of  this  review,  having  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Ohio  and  much  of  it  in  Knox 
county,  is  widely  known,  and  his  upright 
manhood  has  gained  for  him  uniform  re- 
gard. 


AARON  DOUGLASS  BEERS. 

The  well  known  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
farmer  and  Odd  Fellow  whose  name  appears 
above,  and  who  is  a  resident  of  Frederick- 
town,  ^^'ayne  township,  was  born  at  that 
place  May  15,  1852,  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
jane  (Douglass)  Beers.  He  was  educated 
in  the  high  schools  and  early  in  life  gave 
attention  to  agriculture,  to  which  he  has  de- 
voted all  his  active  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Ellicott  Lodge,  No.  267,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  one  of  its  past 
grands,  having  filled  all  its  official  chairs. 
He  is  a  member  also  of  Knoix  Encampment, 
No.  211,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
of  which  he  is  past  chief  patriarch.  In  re- 
ligion he  affiliates  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  is  active  and 


efficient.  He  is  a  citizen  of  recognized  influ- 
ence, which  is  always  exerted  in  l>ehalf  of 
the  best  interests  of  his  township  and 
county. 

Joseph  Beers,  father  of  Aaron  Douglass 
Beers,  -was  born  in  Wayne  township,  Decem- 
ber 15,  181 1,  a  son  of  Jabez  and  Mafy 
(Loveridge)  Beers.  After  acquiring  a  lim- 
ited education  in  the  common  schools  he  be- 
gan at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  an  ap- 
prenticeship to  the  mason's  trade  at  Mount 
Vernon,  Ohio,  and  he  was  employed  as  a 
brick  mason  and  plasterer  the  most  of  his 
life.  He  purchased  the  present  farm  in  1864, 
and  in  1879  erected  the  present  residence 
and  resided  here  till  his  death,  October  30, 
1890.  He  had  survived  his  wife,  who  died 
June  3,  1881.  He  early  identified  himself 
with  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he 
was  called  to  fill  several  important  offices. 
He  married  Miss  Jane  Douglass  on  Decem- 
ber 14,  1841,  and  about  two  years  later  built 
the  house  in  which  he  lived  for  thirty-six 
years  or  until  coming  to  the  one  in  which 
A.  D.  Beers  now  resides.  They  had  two 
sons,  Theodore  Leroy  and  Aaron  Douglass 
Beers.  Theodore  Leroy  Beers  became  a 
dentist  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Hudsonville,  Illinois,  whence  he 
removed  to  .Vincennes,  Indiana  .  Later  he 
lived  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa,  and  he  is  now 
located  at  Los  Angeles,  California. 

Jabez  Beers,  father  of  Joseph  Beers  and 
grandfather  of  Aaron  Douglass  Beers,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  March  25,  1781.  He 
married  Mary  Loveridge  November  3,  1803, 
and  in  1805  they  located  in  Alorris  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Beers,  who 
was  born  November  13,  1782,  bore  her  hus- 
band six  children,  who  were  named  as  fol- 
lows :    Sarah,  Samuel  Smith,  William  Love- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


159 


ridge,  Joseph,  George  O.  and  Mary,  all  of 
whom  are  dead.  Aaron  Douglass  and  John, 
a  son  of  Samuel  and  a  resident  of  Clinton 
township,  are  the  only  representatives  of  the 
family  left  in  Knox  county. 

Aaron  Douglass  Beers  married  Rebecca 
Cook,  June  17,  1884,  and  their  only  child  is 
a  daughter,  Stella,  a  high  school  student. 
Rebecca  (Cook)  Beers  died  just  eighteen 
months  after  her  marriage,  on  December 
17,  1885.  She  was  a  daughter  of  William 
Cook,  of  Aliddlebury  township,  Knox  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  she  was  born.  February  22, 
1894,  Mv.  Beers  was  married  to  Miss  Jessie 
Burnett,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Helen  Bur- 
nett, and  they  have  one  daughter,  Helen 
Jane,  a  child  of  six  years.  Mr.  Beers  owns 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  just  outside  the 
corporation  of  Fredericktown,  and  this  was 
a  part  of  his  father's  homestead.  Here  he  has 
resided  since  the  age  of  twelve  years,  and  the 
work  of  the  farm  has  devolved  upon  him 
from  boyhood.  He  has  here  made  such  im- 
provements as  are  needed  on  an  up-to-date 
farm,  and  is  directing  his  attention  princi- 
pally to  general  farming,  also'  giving  some 
attention  to  the  line  of  sheep-raising. 


OSCAR  RICE. 


Oscar  Rice,  who  follows  farming  on  sec- 
tion II,  Brown  township,  Knox  county,  was 
born  in  Jefferson  township,  near  the  village 
of  Greensville,  on  the  28th  of  July,  185 1,  a 
son  of  Frederick  Rice,  who  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1822. 
The  latter's  father,  Isaac  Rice,  claimed 
Maryland  as  the  state  of  his  nativity.  Soon 
after  his  marriage  he  removed  to  the  Key- 


stone state,  and  in  1 829  he  took  up  his  abode 
in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  entering  a  farm  in 
Jefferson  township,  where  he  spent  his  re- 
maining days,  passing  away  at  the  age  of 
fifty-five  years.  On  that  place  his  son  Fred- 
erick was  reared  from  the  age  of  seven  years, 
and  he  was  there  married  to  Nancy  Jane 
WithrO'W,  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  James 
Withrow,  who  came  to  this  locality  from 
Carroll  county,  Ohio.  During  the  year  1840 
he  represented  his  district  in  the  legislature 
and  was  a  very  prominent  and  influential 
citizen.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  passed 
away  in  Jefferson  township,  the  father  dyiag 
in  1875,  and  the  mother  survived  until  1879. 
Th<y  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living,  namely  :  Oscar,  the 
subject  of  this  review ;  C.  F.,  whose  sketch 
will  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  vol- 
ume; and  Charles  P.  and  Byron  L.,  who  are 
engaged  in  the  implement  business  at 
Greensville,  Ohio'. 

Oscar  Rice  was  reared  and  educated  in 
the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  after  attaining 
his  eighteenth  year  he  began  the  profession 
of  teaching,  following  that  occupation  until 
1895,  during  which  time  he  taught  in  both 
Indiana  and  Ohio.  However,  he  followed 
his  profession  principally  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, and  in  the  task  of  instructing  the  young 
along  lines  of  metal  advancement  his  efforts 
proved  very  effective.  Since  abandoning  the 
teacher's  profession  Mr.  Rice  has  devoted  his 
time  and  attention  tO'  his  farming  and  stock- 
raising  interests,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with 
an  equally  high  degree  of  success. 

In  1887  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sa- 
rah Young,  a  native  of  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Yoiing. 
Mr.  Rice  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
Democracv,  and  on  its  ticket  he  was  elected 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


to  the  position  of  assessor  of  Brown  town- 
ship. He  is  kind  and  benevolent,  charitable 
in  his  opinions  of  others,  _\-et  firm  and 
positive  in  his  convictions,  and  in  the  lo- 
cality in  which  he  has  so  long  made  his 
liome  he  has  a  large  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances. 


CLAY  D.  MARTIN. 

Clay  D.  ]\Iartin,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  in  Berlin  township,  was  born  in 
Fayette  county.  Missouri,  November  24, 
1863,  and  is  the  youngest  of  the  three  chil- 
dren of  John  A.  and  Elizabeth  (Lloyd) 
Martin.  The  father  was  born  and  reared 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  removing  to  Missouri 
there  engaged  in  farming.  His  wife  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  and  there  spent  her  girl- 
hood days.  She  was  afforded  excellent  ed- 
ucational pri\'ileges  and  was  graduated  from 
Louisville  College.  She  belonged  to  a  very 
prominent  family  of  that  state  and  was  a 
lady  of  marked  culture  and  refinement.  She 
died  in  Kansas  when  about  sixty-eight  years 
of  age.  In  the  family  were  two-  sons  and  a 
daughter,  the  latter  being  Laura,  the  wife 
of  Sterling  Curry,  a  farmer  of  Vernon  coun- 
ty, Missouri. 

Mr.  Martin,  of  this  review,  was  reared  in 
the  west  and  imbibed  the  progressive  spirit 
which  has  led  to  the  wonderful  development 
of  that  portion  of  the  country.  His  youth 
was  passed  in  Mi.'^souri  and  Kansas,  and  his 
education  was  acquired  in  the  Montevallo 
schools  in  Vernon  county,  Missouri.  In 
1889  he  came  to  Ohio,  making  his  way  direct 
to  Berlin  township,  Knox  county.  Here  he 
has  a  small  farm  and  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  cultivation  of  the  cereals  best 


adapted  to  'this  climate.  In  summer  the 
green  fields  give  promise  of  golden  harvests 
and  the  neat  and  thrifty  air  which  pervades 
the  place  indicates  the  careful  superT.ision  of 
the  owner. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  1887,  in  Missouri, 
Mr.  Ivlartin  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Elizabeth  Leedy,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Isaac 
and  Nancy  (Bostater)  Leedy.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  four  living  children : 
Cora,  Pearl.  Ollie  and  Martha.  They  also 
lost  one  child  in  infancy.  They  have  a  pleas- 
ant home  in  Berlir,  township  and  delight  to 
entertain  their  many  friends.  They  hold 
membership  in  the  Brethren  church,  and  Mr. 
Martin  belongs  to  the  Grange.  He  has  al- 
ways been  a  Democrat,  and  on  that  ticket  he 
was  elected  township  trustee  in  190 1.  There 
have  been  no  exciting  chapters  in  his  life 
history,  but  his  career  illustrates  what  can 
be  accomplished  through  determination  and 
strong  purjxjse.  Depending  on  his  own  re- 
sources he  has  gained  a  place  among  the 
substantial  and  leading  young  farmers  of  his 
adopted  county. 


J.  CALVIN  LONEY. 

The  reward  of  a  well  spent  life  is  an 
honorable  retirement  from  labor,  and  it  is 
meet  that  after  years  of  industry  and 
strightforward  dealing  one  should  enjoy  rest 
from  business  cares.  This  has  Deen  vouch- 
safed to  Mr.  Loney,  who  is  now  located  in 
North  Liberty,  but  who  through  a  long  pe- 
riod was  identified  with  farming  interests  in 
Pike  township.  He  was  born  in  this  town-  I 
ship  January  29,  1835,  and  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Vir- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


ginia.  His  grandfather,  John  Loney,  was 
born  in  the  Old  Dominion  and  emigrated 
westward,  settHng  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio, 
Avhere  he  engaged  in  fanning.  Subsequent- 
!}•  he  came  with  his  familj-  to  Knox  county, 
and  here  he  entered  alxiut  five  eighty-acre 
tracts  of  Ian(h  afterward  giving  one  to  each 
of  his  sons.  He  also  assisted  his  daughters 
in  starting  in  life.  In  his  family  were  four 
sons  and  two  daughters,  the  third  child  and 
second  son  being  John  Loney,  the  father  of 
our  subject.  His  birth  occurred  in  Harri- 
son county,  Ohio,  and  there  he  was  reared 
until  his  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Knox 
county.  He  afterward  returned  to  Harrison 
county  and  was  there  married,  following 
which  he  brought  his  bride  to  this  county. 
He  wedded  Miss  Elizabeth  Kirkpatrick,  a 
native  of  the  former  county,  and  through  a 
long  period  they  were  representative  farm- 
ing people  of  Pike  township.  They  had 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  J. 
Calvin  Loney  was  the  second.  The  father 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democracy, 
and  held  nearly  all  the  township  offices.  He 
had  a  very  wide  acquaintance  and  the  salient 
characteristics  in  his  career  commended  him 
to  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  all  with 
whom  he  was  associated.  He  died  in  his 
eighty-seventh  year. 

A  life-long  resident  of  Knox  county,  J. 
Calvin  Loney  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the 
light  of  day  in  a  little  log  cabin  which  had 
been  built  by  his  father,  and  when  si.x  years 
of  age  he  began  his  education  in  a  log  school 
house,  walking  two  miles  in  order  tO'  attend 
school.  Throughout  the  period  of  his  youth 
he  pursued  his  studies  for  about  three 
months  during  the  winter  season,  and  dur- 
ing the  summer  months  he  aided  in  farm 


work.  On  the  13th  of  December,  1855,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  C. 
Ridenour,  a  native  of  Washington  count}', 
Maryland,  who  when  about  fifteen  years  of 
age  came  to  Pike  township,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  with  iier  parents,  Daniel  and  Sarah 
(Bene)  Ridenour.  They,  too,  were  natives 
of  Maryland,  and  in  their  family  were  eight 
children.  On  making  their  way  westward 
they  established  their  new  home  in  a  log 
cabin  and  experienced  the  toil  and  hardships 
and  also  the  pleasures  of  pioneer  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loney  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  the  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  which  was  owned  by  his  fa- 
ther and  on  which  they  lived  for  thirteen 
years,  when  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on 
section  3,  Pike  township,  continuing  there 
to  make  his  home  until  1892,  when  he  built 
his  present  residence  in  North  Liberty.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  added  to  his  original 
tract  of  land  and  had  become  the  OAraer  of 
six  hundred  acres,  but  as  his  children 
started  out  in  life  he  divided  with  them,  thus 
enabling  them  to  secure  goc*d  homes.  He  is 
now  living  retired,  leaving  the  development 
of  his  farm  to  others,  the  rented  farm  bring- 
ing to  him  a  good  income. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loney 
was  blessed  with  six  children,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  namely:  Clarence,  who 
married  Louisa  ^^■ood  and  is  living  in  Pike 
township;  John  Alvin,  who  married  Sylvia 
Hibbitts  and  also  resided  in  Pike  township; 
Daniel  W.,  a  graduate  of  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  state  university  of  Michigan, 
who  married  Hallie  Fulchs  and  is  now  prac- 
ticing medicine  in  Norwalk,  Ohio;  Annie, 
the  wife  of  George  Ridenour,  a  cousin,  of 
Wayne  township:  Alice  Belle,  the  wife  of 
R.  D.  Horn,  M.  D.,  of  Butler,  Ohio;  and 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


Bernice,  wife  of  Charles  M.  Leedy,  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  Pike  township.  They  also 
have  lost  three  children  in  infancy.  They 
have  twenty-one  grandchildren  and  these  and 
the  children  of  our  subject  were  all  born  in 
Pike  township  with  the  exception  of  the  two 
children  of  Dr.  Loney.  The  family  is  one 
of  prominence,  and  its  representatives  enjoy 
the  hospitality  of  the  best  homes  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  county.  Mr.  Loney  is  and  has 
been  one  of  the  leading  men  of  Pike  town- 
ship, and  in  his  political  views  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. He  has  held  local  offices  and  has 
ever  discharged  his  duties  in  a  prompt  and 
capable  manner,  betraying  no  political  trust 
in  the  slightest  degree.  Industry  formed 
the  foundation  upon  which  he  reared  the  su- 
perstructure of  his  success.  His  name  in 
business  dealings  is  synonymous  with  hon- 
esty and  in  all  life's  relations  he  has  been 
found  true  to  upright  principles. 


JOSEPH   A.   FISH. 

It  is  most  fitting  that  many  years  of  use- 
ful and  honorable  labor  should  be  crowned 
with  a  well  earned  rest,  that  retirement  from 
toil  should  ofifer  opportunity  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  life  unharrassed  by  business  cares 
or  responsibilities,  and  such  has  been  vouch- 
safed to  Mr.  Fish,  who  after  many  years 
of  connection  with  agricultural  interests  is 
living  quietly  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Lever- 
ing. He  was  born  in  Congress  township, 
Monroe  county,  Ohio,  September  29,  1838. 
His  father,  Henry  Fish,  was  a  native  of 
Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  and  there  spent 
tke  days  of  his  youth.  He  wedded  Mary 
A.  Burson,  also  a  native  of  the  game  coun- 
ty, and  about   1831    they  emigrated  west- 


ward, taking  up  their  abode  in  Richland 
county,  Ohio,  whence  they  afterward  went 
to  Morrow  county  about  1832.  There  the 
parents  spent  their  remaining  days.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  Whig  in  early  life,  and  when  the 
Repubhcan  party  was  formed  he  joined  its 
ranks,  giving  to  it  his  loyal  support  through- 
out his  remaining  days.  For  about  forty 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  his  wife  also  held 
membership  in  that  denomination.  He 
passed  away  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three  years,  for  his  birth  occurred  in  1801. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  in  1815,  died  in 
1892.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, six  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  mature  years  and  were  mar- 
ried with  one  exception. 

Upon  the  homestead  farm  in  Morrow 
county  Joseph  Albert  Fish  remained  through 
the  period  of  his  minority.  He  acquired  his 
education  in  the  district  schools,  and  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  began  learning  the  plasterer's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  abont  nineteen 
years.  After  his  marriage  he  located  in 
Congress  township,  Morrow  count}-,  where 
they  lived  for  thirteen  years,  and  then  came 
to  Middlebury  township,  Knox  county,  lo- 
cating on  the  farm  where  they  resided  un- 
til 1901,  when  he  erected  their  present  home 
in  the  village  of  Levering. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1859,  Mr.  Fish 
was  united  in  marriage  to^  Miss  Mary  Fine- 
frock,  a  native  of  Richland  county,  Ohio, 
born  June  11,  1840.  Her  father,  Peter  Fine- 
frock,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  when  a 
young  man  removed  to  Richland  county,  this 
state,  where  he  met  and  married  Elizabeth 
Wirick,  a  native  of  Guernsey  county,  Ohio. 
Mrs.  Fish  is  their  only  child,  and  was  reared 
in  the  county  of  her  nativity.     Her  father 


OF    KNOX    COUNl"Y,    OHIO. 


163 


died  in  1859,  at  the  age  of  forty-two  years, 
but  her  mother  lived  to  be  ninety-three  years 
of  age,  dying  on  the  anniversary  of  her 
birth,  October  6,  1900.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fish  have  been  born  two  sons.  John  Frank- 
Hn,  the  elder,  married  Emma  Bayer,  and 
they  had  one  son,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  and  a  half  years.  Miles  Jefferson 
wedded  Glenn  V.  Killen,  and  their  only  child, 
a  son,  died  at  the  age  of  six  and  a  half 
years. 

Although  Mr.  Fish  now  resides  in  Lev- 
ering he  is  yet  the  owner  of  a  valuable  tract 
of  land  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
which  is  located  in  Knox,  Morrow  and  Rich- 
land counties,  and  which  returns  to  him  a 
good  rental.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat 
and  served  as  trustee  of  Middlebury  town- 
ship and  as  school  director.  He  has  also 
filled  other  local  offices,  and  no  trust  re- 
posed in  him  has  ever  been  betrayed.  So- 
cially he  is  identified  with  Owl  Creek  Lodge, 
No.  686,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  filled  all  of 
the  chairs,  acting  as  treasurer  of  the  lodge 
since  its  organization.  He  has  taken  a  very 
active  part  in  its  work  and  exemplifies  in  his 
life  its  fraternal  and  charitable  principles. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Grange  at  Bateman- 
town.  The  success  he  has  achieved  in  life  is 
the  reward  of  his  own  labors.  He  entered 
upon  his  business  career  without  capital  and 
has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward,  gain- 
ing a  comfortable  competence  through  un- 
remitting labor  and  capable  management. 


JOHN  P.  BRECKLER. 

In  Howard  township  resides  John  P. 
Breckler  and  the  farming  interests  of  the 
community  are  well  represented  by  him,  for 


he  is  energetic  and  progressive,  carrying  on 
his  work  along  modern  lines.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Jeft'erson  township  January  24, 
1848.  His  father,  Francis  Breckler,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  in  early  man- 
hood came  to  Knox  county,  where  he  mar- 
ried Catherine  Heckler,  who  was  born  in 
the  fatherland  and  came  to  America  when  a 
maiden  of  fourteen  years.  Mr.  Breckler 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five,  after  which 
his  widow  became  the  wife  of  Stephen  Blu- 
baugh,  and  her  death  occwrred  when  she  was 
sixty-five  years  of  age.  By  her  first  mar- 
riage she  had  five  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  youngest. 

John  P.  Breckler  spent  the  first  eight 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  township,  and 
then  removed  to  Brown  township.  His 
youth  was  one  of  toil,  for  at  the  early  age 
of  ten  years  he  began  to  earn  his  own  liv- 
ing, residing  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Stephen  Blubaugh.  There  he  raadie  his 
home  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred 
September  11,  1871.  Miss  Laura  A.  Sapp 
became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  this  coun- 
ty and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Delia 
A.  (White)  Sapp.  Two  children  grace  this 
union,  Stephen  J.  and  Charlie  C.  Mr. 
Breckler  includes  in  his  family  an  orphan 
boy  of  sixteen  years,  Henry  Francis  Davis, 
who  was  taken  by  them  when  a  ckild,  and 
has  received  the  same  advantages  as  his  own 
children. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Breckler  lo- 
cated in  Brown  township,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  Union  township,  and  in  1875 
came  to  Howard  township,  locating  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides.  Here  he  has 
one  hundred  and  four  acres  of  good  land, 
much  of  it  being  excellent  botton  land,  and 
from  the  time  of  early  spring  planting  un- 


164 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


til  the  crops  are  gatheretl  in  the  autumn  he 
is  usually  busy  in  the  fields  and  the  result 
of  his  labors  is  seen  in  abundant  harvests. 
He  realizes  that  there  is  no  royal  road  to 
wealth  and  that  untiring  labor  must  prove 
the  foundation  for  success.  He  voted  for 
General  Grant  at  one  time,  but  has  with  this 
exception  always  gi\-en  his  support  to  the 
Democratic  party,  and  in  his  religious  faith 
he  is  allied  with  St.  Luke's  Catholic  church 
in  Danville.  His  entire  life  has  been  spent 
in  Knox  county,  and  as  his  career  has  ever 
been  an  honorable  one  he  has  many  friends 
within  its  borders. 


THOAIAS  RANDOLPH  HEAD. 

Labor  forms  the  foundation  of  all  pros- 
perity, and  it  is  to  his  enterprising  and  well 
directed  efforts  that  our  subject  owes  his 
position  as  a  leading  and  representative 
farmer  of  College  township,  Knox  county. 
He  was  born  in  Hampshire  county,  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  5th  of  August,  1823,  a  son  of 
Nathan  and  Penelope  (Wennan)  Head,  na- 
tives, respectively,  of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia. This  worthy  couple  became  the  par- 
ents of  the  following  children,  namely  :  Mary 
A.,  the  widow  of  Joseph  Dull ;  Nathan,  de- 
ceased; Thomas  Randolph,  the  subject  of 
this  review ;  Joseph  and  Hannah,  twins,  both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased;  Sarah  A.,  John 
ait'd  Penelope,  deceased;  and  Franklin,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Missouri. 

Thomas  Randolph  Head  received  but 
meager  educational  advantages  during-  his 
youth,  attending  for  a  time  a  primitive  log 
school  house  in  Virginia,  to  which  he  was 
obliged  to  walk  a  distance  of  two  miles.     In 


1835  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Pleasant  township,  Knox  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  the  family  making  the  journey  in 
a  one-horse  wagon,  and  on  the  trip  they  were 
accompanied  by  another  family,  making  a 
party  of  eighteen.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  the  Head  family  took  up  their  abode 
in  Gambler,  and  our  subject  at  that  time  was 
but  twelve  years  of  age.  Until  his  twenty- 
second  year  he  remained  on  his  father's  farm 
and  Ije  then  began  working  for  neighboring 
farmers  by  the  month,  continuing  thus  until 
1849,  ■when  he  embarked  in  the  butchering 
business  in  Gambier,  continuing  that  occu- 
pation for  twelve  years.  His  next  vocation 
was  that  of  buying  and  shipping  cattle,  hogs 
and  sheep,  which  he  fotmd  a  profitable 
source  of  investment,  but  in  1898  he  aban- 
doned that  occupation,  since  which  time  he 
has  devoted  his  attention  to  looking  after 
his  extensive  landed  interests.  He  now 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
sixty-four  acres  of  excellent  and  well  cul- 
tivated land,  on  which  may  be  found  all  the 
necessary  improvements  of  a  well  regulated 
homestead.  For  a  time  Mr.  Head  ser\-ed 
as  agent  for  Kenyon  College,  looking  after 
its  farms,  houses  and  other  property,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  he  served  as  trustee  and 
assessor  of  College  township,  discharging 
his  public  duties  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
all  concerned.  All  his  trade  transactions  are 
carried  on  with  the  strictest  regard  for  the 
ethics  of  commercial  life,  and  in  busi- 
ness circles  his  reputation  for  honesty  is 
above  question. 

On  the  2 1st  of  October,  1849,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr,  Head  and  ^liss    j 
Angeline  Darby,  born  July  17,  1826,  and  for 
just  half  a  century  were  they  permitted  the 
privilege  of  closest  communion,  each  being   | 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


165 


a  full  complement  to  the  other.  On  the  21st 
of  October,  1899,  just  fifty  years  after  their 
troths  were  plighted,  was  the  companion- 
ship broken,  she  being  called  in  advance, 
there  to  await  a  reunion  that  shall  know  no 
severance.  She  had  been  a  patient  sufferer 
for  years,  but  for  only  a  few  months  had 
friends  feared  the-  result.  Hers  was  a  noble 
life,  filled  with  womanly  love  and  devotion. 
Her  loss  was  deply  mourned  not  only  by 
her  immediate  family,  but  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends. 

The  Republican  party  receives  Mr. 
Head's  hearty  support  and  co-operation, 
while  in  his  social  relations  he  has  1>een  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order  for  the  past 
fortv  years,  exemplifying  its  ennobling  prin- 
ciples in  his  erery-day  life,  and  he  is  now  a 
member  of  the  thirty-second  degree.  Relig- 
iously he  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church  and  takes  a  leading  part  in  its  work, 
doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote  its  growth 
and  success.  ^Ir.  Head  contributes  liberally 
of  his  time  and  means  to  all  worthy  enter- 
prises, withholding  not  his  support  from  any 
public  movement  or  measure  which  he  be- 
lieves will  prove  of  benefit  to  the  commu- 
nitv. 


JOHN  JA^IES  TULLOSS. 

The  man  whose  name  is  mentioned  above 
has  been  identified  with  Alorgan  township, 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  for  eighty-two  years, 
and  during  that  long  period  has  been  not 
only  a  living  witness  of  the  development  of 
its  history  and  prosperity,  but  a  vital  factor 
in  its  progress.  John  James  Tulloes,  son 
of  John  James  and  Elizabeth  (Honey)  Tul- 
loss.  was  born  in  ^Morgan  township  Septem- 


ber II,  1820,  was  educated  in  its  old  sub- 
scription schools  and  has  been  an  independ- 
ent farmer  since  he  attained  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one years  except  during  four  }-ears,  and 
has  passed  his  entire  life  in  the  township, 
having  his  home  always  on  the  same  piece 
of  ground.  In  religious  affiliation  he  is  a 
Primitive  Baptist.  Politically  he  has  been 
a  Democrat  during  all  the  years  of  his  man- 
hood, and  he  has  always  been  influential  in 
local  affairs  and  for  six  years  held  the  of- 
fice of  township  trustee. 

October  24,  1844,  Mr.  Tulloss  married 
Caroline  Campnett  Smith,  daughter  of 
James  Harrington  and  Martha  (Davis) 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  the  township  April 
8,  1826,  and  who  has  borne  him  children  as 
follows :  Emily,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years.  Byron  Leonard,  a  druggist 
at  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  married  Josephine 
Van  Buskirk  and  had  four  children,  three 
of  whom  died  in  infancy  and  one  of  whom, 
Clyde  E.,  survives.  His  second  wife  was 
Sarah  E.  Dennis,  who  left  one  child  li\-ing, 
Josephine  R. ;  and  for  his  third  wife  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Maggie  Carpenter.  The  next  in 
order  of  birth  of  John  J.  Tulloss'  children 
was  named  John  James,  who  died  at  thirty- 
one.  Reese  P.,  who  died  at  thirty-four  of 
an  accident,  a  ball  from  a  rifle  which  he 
picked  up  carelessly  by  the  muzzle  and  which 
was  discharged  by  the  hammer  coming  in 
contact  with  a  nail,  penetrating  his  heart. 
Almina  \\'eaver  became  his  wife  and  bore 
him  three  children,  named  Reese  Edgar,  De 
Sylvia  and  Freddie  Wayne.  Benjamin 
Franklin  went  to  Texas  and  was  last  heard 
from  twenty  years  ago  through  a  letter 
which  he  wrote  announcing  his  intention  of 
going  up  in  the  mountains  with  a  large  herd 
of  cattle.    George  Washington  married  Rilla 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


Boner,  and  lives  in  Wayne  township,  Knox 
county.  He  is  a  minister  of  the  Primitive 
Baptist  church.  Cynthia  Almeda  and  Caro- 
Hne  Campnett  are  members  of  their  father's 
household. 

Captain  John  James  Tulloss,  Sr.,  was 
born  in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia,  Septem- 
ber, 1784,  and  was  married  in  March,  1815, 
to  Elizabeth  Honey,  also  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, born  about  1778.  They  had  children 
as  follows :  Ann,  who  married  Benjamin 
Seymour  and  lives  in  Kansas;  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Charles  Stevens  and  lives  in 
]\Iiller  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio';  Will- 
iam, who  married  Cynthia  Smith  and  after 
her  death  Felicia  Scott,  of  Mount  Vernon; 
Richard  S.,  who  was  born  in  1819,  was  for 
twenty  years  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Mor- 
gan township,  where  he  was  a  lifelong  resi- 
dent, was  a  member  of  the  Ohio  state  con- 
stitutional convention  in  1870,  and  at  his 
death,  in  -1892,  left  a  farm  of  six  hundred 
acres;  he  never  married;  John  James,  who 
was  next  in  order  of  birth;  Benjamin,  who 
married  Margaret  Campbell,  and  is  living 
in  retirement  at  Mount  Vernon ;  and  Susan, 
who  died  March  28,  1899;  and  Rodham, 
who  married  Betsy  Harris ;  she  died  in  1873, 
he  passing  away  two  years  later.  The  fa- 
ther of  these  children  came  tO'  Licking  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1807,  and  returned  to  Vir- 
ginia in  1 8 14,  and  was  there  married  in 
181 5.  He  was  the  captain  of  a  Knox  coim- 
ty  company  in  the  war  of  181 2.  He  bought 
five  hundred  acres  of  military  land  in  Knox 
county  and  improved  it  into  valuable  prop- 
erty, which  has  since  been  divided  into 
smaller  tracts,  and  is  still  held  by  the  Tul- 
loss family.  While  a  resident  of  Licking 
county  he  made  the  first  brick  ever  manu- 
factured in  Newark.     After  his  location  in 


Knox  county  he  was  a  farmer  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  fifty- 
seven  years  old. 

Azariah  Davis,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Tulloss,  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, of  Welsh  descent,  and  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  married 
Elsie  Van  Meter,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Van 
Meter  and  a  native  of  Virginia,  v^^ho  had 
come  on  horseback  to  Greene  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  1799  they  went  to  Loudoun 
county,  Virginia.  James  Harrington 
Smith,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Tulloss,  was  born 
near  Hagerstown,  Maryland.  When  quite 
young  he  was  taken  to  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  subsequently  married.  He  settled  in 
Ohio  in  181 1  and  sensed  his  country  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  was  the  father  of  children 
named  Azariah,  Benjamin,  Mary  (Tst), 
John,  Mary  (2d),  Sarah,  Rebecca,  James, 
Henry,  Rachel,  Caroline  and  Reese.  Of 
this  family  of  children  Mrs.  Tulloss  is  the 
only  one  living.  Azariah  was  a  citizen  of 
Knox  co'unty.  Benjamin  lived  in  Morgan 
township  eighty-nine  years.  Their  daugh- 
ter lives  on  their  old  home  farm  on  the  New- 
ark road  in  that  township.  Mary  married 
Reese  McClellon  and  she  and  her  husband 
both  are  now  dead.  John  died  of  yellow 
fever  at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  Sarah 
married  Wesley  McCune  and  had  seven  chil- 
dren, named  Harrington,  Charles,  Henry, 
Margaret,  Etwinna,  Alexander  and  Charles, 
all  now  being  deceased.  Rebecca  married 
Henry  Crumley  and  they  had  children 
named  Oscar,  Sarah,  Margaret  and  Sarah 
Adeline.  James  married  Harriet  Todd  and 
she  lives  in  Putnam  county,  Ohio.  Their 
children  were  named  Lafayette,  Louisa, 
Julia,  Kossuth,  Jefi^erson  and  Ammie  Caro- 
line.    Henrv  married  Sarah  McVev  for  his 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


[67 


first  wife  and  his  second  wife  was  Han- 
nah Harris,  who  also  has  passed  away. 
Martha,  his  daughter,  lives  in  Licking  cotm- 
ty,  Ohio.  His  children  by  his  second  mar- 
riage were  Elzie,  Emma,  Frank,  Carrie; 
George,  Reese  and  Mammie.  The  latter 
married  Xewton  jMcVey  and  lives  in  Carth- 
age, Missouri.  Caroline  married  John 
James  Tulloss.  Reese,  who  married  Alice 
Fly,  was  killed  by  Indians  in  Arizona. 
Their  children  were  named  Cornelius,  Reese 
and  Cornelia.  Benjamin  Tulloss,  a  brother 
of  our  subject,  was  born  December  25,  1768, 
and  became  one  of  the  pioneers  in  Ohio 
some  time  after  his  brother.  He  married 
Mary  Marshall  and  died  in  February,  1847, 
and  his  wife  February  14,  1846. 


DAVID  BRTCKKR   ELLIOTT. 

The  well-known  farmer  of  Morgan 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  whose  name 
is  above,  and  some  account  of  whose  useful 
life  should  be  included  in  this  work,  was 
born  in  Knox  county,  August  30,  1856,  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Anna  Belle  (Bricker) 
Elliott.  He  was  e'ducated  in  the  public 
schools  near  his  home  and  at  Utica.  He 
has  been  a  farmer  since  he  was  twenty  years 
of  age,  and  has  made  a  success  in  his  chosen 
field  of  labor. 

David  Bricker  Elliott  was  reared  in  the 
Presbyterian  faith  and  carefully  instructed 
in  everything  tending  to  make  him  a  good 
Democrat.  He  has  for  years  been  influential 
in  his  township,  and  for  a  decade  and  a  half 
has  filled  the  office  of  school  director.  He 
was  married  December  12,  1878,  to  Miss 
Mary  Warner,  daughter  of  Jack  and  Emily 


(Arven)  Warner,  who  was  born  April  13, 
1859,  and  who  has  borne  her  husband  chil- 
dren as  follows :  Belle,  born  October  14, 
1879;  Samuel  Arthur,  born  June  6,  1883; 
Emily  M.,  born  September  10,  1886,  and 
died  when  five  years  old;  Nellie,  born  Oc- 
tober 12,  1888;  Tressa,  June  26,  1892; 
Helen,  February  2,  1895;  Florence,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1896;  Wilbur,  November  3,  189S; 
and  James,  April  15,   18.90. 

Samuel  Elliott,  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Clay  township, 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  December  25,  1839,  and 
was  educated  in  subscription  schools  near  his 
boyhood  home,  which  were  taught  in  log 
school  houses  with  puncheon  floors  and  slab 
seats  and  writing  benches.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a  lifelong 
Democrat,  and  several  times  filled  the  ofiice 
O'i  township  trustee.  Anna  Belle  (Bricker) 
Elliott  was  born  in  Knox  countv,  Ohio,  in 
1837- 

Patrick  Elliott,  grandfather  of  David 
Bricker  Elliott,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and 
when  a  mere  child  was  brought  by  his  par- 
ents tO'  America.  The  family  made  the  voy- 
age in  a  sailing  vessel  and  located  in  Penn- 
sylvania, whence  Patrick  Elliott  came  to 
Knox  countv,  Ohio,  at  an  earlv  date. 


JAMES  HONEY. 

One  of  those  old  and  honored  pioneers 
who  came  early  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and 
assisted  literally  "to  make  a  wilderness 
bloom  like  a  rose"  and  who  influenced  and 
participated  in  all  its  later  developments  was 
the  late  James  Honey,  who  was  born  in 
1799  and  died  in  1885. 


1 68 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


James  Honey  was  a  son  of  William  and 
Nancy  iLathram)  Honey,  and  tirst  saw  the 
light  of  day  in  Fauquier  county,'  Virginia, 
and  was  there  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  quite  young, 
leaving  a  family  of  twelve  children,  named 
as  follows:  John,  Elizabeth.  George,  Will- 
iam, Susan,  Margaret,  Allen.  Ann.  Lucinda. 
Frank,  James  and  Frances,  the  last  men- 
tioned of  whom  died  in  infancy.  When 
about  nineten  years  old  he  came  with  his 
mother  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  bought 
one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres  of  military 
land  in  Morgan  township,  which  he  devel- 
oped into  a  good  farm,  on  which  his  daugh- 
ter, Caroline,  now  lives,  and  which  she  man- 
ages with  much  ability.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat  of  the  stanchest  type.  In  re- 
ligion he  was  an  old-school  Baptist.  He 
was  a  man  of  much  energy  and  exerted  a 
good  inlluence  upon  the  comnnmity  in  which 
he  lived,  and  in  his  later  years  he  took  a 
pardonable  pride  in  the  fact  that  he  had 
cleared  a  farm  in  the  midst  of  a  A-eritable 
forest  and  developed  it  into  a  valuable  ag- 
ricultural property.  His  oldest  brother. 
John,  then  quite  young,  rendered  service  in 
the  war  of   1812. 

Mr.  Honey  was  married  in  1829  to 
Susan  Sellers,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary 
(Beam)  Sellers,  who  bore  him  children  as 
follows :  William,  a  farmer  who  li\-es  at 
Red  Oak,  Iowa :  Nancy,  who  married  Will- 
iam Mercer  and  died  in  March.  1901  ;  Mary 
Elizabeth,  who  died  at  thirteen ;  Caroline 
M.,  who  lives  on  her  father's  homestead; 
and  Margaret  Jerusha,  who  is  the  wife  of 
James  Cooksey,  living  on  part  of  the  old 
homestead.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  in  1876. 


LEROY  G.   HUNT. 

Almost  continuously  through  the  last 
decade  of  the  nineteenth  century  Colonel  Le- 
roy  G.  Hunt  was  in  public  office  in  Mount 
Vernon  and  no  one  has  ever  more  capably, 
efficiently  and  faithfully  served  his  fellow 
townsmen  than  he.  For  four  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  city  council  and  for  four 
years  mayor,  and  throughout  the  period  he 
exercised  his  official  prerogatives  in  support 
of  all  measures  of  practical  utility,  of  re- 
form and  substantial  progress. 

Mr.  Hunt  is  numbered  among  the  na- 
tive residents  of  Knox  county,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  at  Hunt  Station  in  1843.  I" 
the  first  decade  of  the  century  the  family 
was  founded  in  this  county  by  Jonathan 
Hunt,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  who 
came  from  Maryland  to  Ohio  about  1806. 
Here  he  began  the  development  of  a  home 
upon  the  wild  western  frontier  and  aided 
in  reclaiming  this  district  for  purposes  of 
civilization.  When  the  country  became  in- 
volved in  a  second  war  with  Great  Britain 
he  joined  the  army  and  fought  for  the  rights 
of  the  nation.  He  married  Honor  Wells, 
who  resided  near  Wellsville,  Ohio,  and 
among  their  children  was  Thomas  Hunt, 
who  was  born  in  181 1  upon  the  same  farm 
where  cxcurred  the  birth  of  our  subject,  and 
where  he  died  in  1852,  being  killed  by  the 
falling  of  a  tree.  He  wedded  Miss  Mary 
Baxter,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Pleasant  township,  Knox  county. 
In  addition  to  our  subject  their  children 
were :  Thomas,  who  is  now  living  in  Mount 
Vernon;  Honor  J.,  the  wife  of  J.  J.  Phiffer, 
of  this  city;  Richard  C.  who  was  a  member 
of  Company  G.  Twentieth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  is  living  in  Los  Angeles.  Cali- 


Le/lxrt^i^^ 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


169 


fornia;  and  John  D.,  who  was  a  member 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty  second  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  is  living  in  Petos- 
key,  Michigan.  One  son,  Ezra  Hunt,  died 
in  1893. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  majority 
of  men  who  become  prominent  in  the 
various  important  walks  of  life  come 
from  the  farm.  Our  subject  was  thus 
reared  amid  the  beauties  of  nature, 
growing  vigorous  and  strong  in  mind 
and  body,  nourished  by  healthful  coun- 
try food,  breathing  pure  air  and  from  his 
infancy  feeling  that  freedom  and  independ- 
ence which  comes  to  the  fanner  above  all 
others.  He  pursued  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  in  1861  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  government,  becoming  one 
of  the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  G,  Twenti- 
eth Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which 
he  served  until  1865,  when,  the  war  having 
ended,  he  received  an  honorable  discharge. 
He  was  under  Grant  in  the  seige  of  Vicks- 
burg,  was  with  Sherman's  army  in  the  At- 
lanta campaign  and  went  with  him  on  the 
celebrated  march  to  the  sea,  being  a  member 
of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  under  Gen- 
eral McPherson.  He  was  never  known  to 
falter  before  duty  and  with  loyal  courag- 
eous spirit  defended  the  Union  cause  until 
the  supremacy  of  the  national  government 
at  Washington  was  established. 

After  his  return  to  Knox  county  Mr. 
Hunt  was  connected  with  the  building  trade 
for  a  time  and  afterward  conducted  an  om- 
nibus line  for  sixteen  years.  For  thirty 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  livery  bus- 
iness in  Mount  Vernon  and  has  a  good  es- 
tablishment, well-equipped  with  a  large  line 
of  fine  vehicles  and  many  excellent  horses. 
His  earnest  desire  to  please  his  customers 


and  his  reasonable  prices  have  secured  for 
him  a  liberal  patronage. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  married  to  Miss  Martha 
F.  Sapp,  a  daughter  of  Levi  Sapp,  deceased, 
formerly  of  Mount  Vernon.  Socially  he  is 
connected  with  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the 
National  Union,  the  Junior  Order  of  United 
American  Mechanics  and  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  being  the  first 
exalted  ruler  of  the  lodge  in  this  place.  He 
likewise  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  Post, 
of  Mount  Vernon,  has  served  as  Its  com- 
mander, and  was  on  the  staff  of  the  state 
department  commander  and  for  one  term  on 
the  staff  of  the  national  commander.  He 
belongs  to  the  Loyal  Legion  and  is  quarter- 
master general  on  the  staff  of  General  T. 
W.  Minshell,  of  the  Ohio  Brigade  of  the 
Uniformed  Rank  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
he  commanded  the  Fifth  Regiment  of 
Knights  of  Pythias  in  Ohio  for  over  six 
years.  He  also  served  as  signal  officer  on 
the  stafif  of  General  Howe  of  the  Ohio  Bri- 
gade of  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  his  polit- 
ical views  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  unwav- 
ering in  his  allegiance  to  the  principles  of 
the  party.  He  served  as  deputy  sheriff 
for  one  year  under  Sheriff  Steele  and 
in  1891  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
city  council,  serving  in  that  office  for 
four  successive  years.  In  1896  he  was 
elected  mayor  and  continued  in  that  posi- 
tion for  four  years,  during  which  time 
he  demonstrated  that  his  loyalty  to  the 
best  interests  of  his  city  was  as  great  as  that 
which  he  displayed  toward  the  Union  cause 
during  the  Civil  war.  He  studied  closely 
public  needs  and  demands  and  endorsed 
every  measure  which  he  believed  would 
prove  of  public  good.  His  course  was  such 
as  to  continue  him  in  the  warm  regard  of  his 


I70 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


fellow  men  which  he  had  long  enjoyed,  and 
as  a  representative  citizen  of  Knox  county 
he  well  deserves  mention  in  this  volume. 


HENRY  B.  BANNING. 

Knox  county  has  produced  many  men 
who  in  various  important  walks  of  life  have 
honored  their  native  county  and  prominent 
among  these  was  General  Henry  B.  Ban- 
ning. An  enumeration  of  the  men  of  the 
present  generation  who  have  attained  to  em- 
inent positions  and  at  the  same  time  have 
reflected  credit  upon  the  state  to  which  they 
belong  would  be  incomplete  were  there  fail- 
ure to  make  reference  of  him  whose  name 
initiates  this  paragraph.  He  held  distinc- 
tive precedence  as  a  member  of  the  bar  and 
also  in  Democratic  circles  in  the  state.  He 
won  distinction  and  glory  upon  the  field  of 
battle  and  throughout  his  useful  public  ca- 
reer he  so  conducted  himself  as  to  win  the 
encomiums  of  even  those  who  were  opposed 
to  him  politically. 

General  Banning  was  the  sixth  child  of 
James  S.  and  Eliza  (Blackstone)  Banning, 
and  was  bom  in  Mount  Vernon  November 
10,  1836.  He  pursued  his  education  in  the 
Clinton  school,  in  Hull  Rigsby's  private 
school  and  in  Sloan's  Academy,  in  Mount 
Vernon.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  took  up 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  and  under  the 
direction  of  Hosmer  Curtis  and  Joseph  De- 
vin  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  became 
a  partner  of  William  Dunbar,  but  his  con- 
nection with  the  legal  fraternity  had  contin- 
ued only  a  few  years  when  the  Civil  war  was 
inaugurated.  He  had  watched  with  interest 
the  progress  of  events  in  the  south  and  had 
determined  that  if  an  attempt  was  made  to 


overthrow  the  Union  he  would  aid  in  its 
preservation.  Accordingly  he  enlisted  in 
1 86 1  as  a  member  of  the  Fourth  Ohio  In- 
fantry, which  was  one  of  the  most  gallant 
regiments  upon  the  field  of  action  through- 
out the  war.  He  was  elected  captain  of 
Company  B  and  later  he  was  recommended 
by  General  Shields  for  the  position  of  major 
of  the  Fifty-second  Ohio,  but  he  never 
joined  that  regiment,  being  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Eighty-seventh,  a  regiment  en- 
listed for  three  months'  service.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  became  lieuten- 
ant-colonel of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twen- 
ty-fifth Ohio  and  served  as  such  until  the 
spring  of  1863,  when  he  became  colonel  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Ohio 
Volunteers.  This  regiment  was  at  Chicka- 
mauga  and  was  led  by  Colonel  Banning  in  a 
charge  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the 
colors  of  the  Twenty-second  Alabama — the 
only.  Rebel  colors  captured  in  that  sanguin- 
ary engagement.  At  Kenesaw  Mountain 
Colonel  Banning  and  his  brave  men  also 
won  other  laurels,  but  the  victory  cost  them 
dear,  over  thirty-three  per  cent,  being  killed 
or  wounded.  The  Colonel  gave  the  order 
for  his  men  to  lie  down  and  not  retire  a 
single  inch  until  he  commanded  them  to 
do  so.  They  obeyed  and  for  four  hours 
they  lay  there,  unsupported  and  exposed  to 
a  galling  fire  of  artiller}'  and  small  arms, 
upon  both  flanks  and  in  front.  In  1S65 
Colonel  Banning  was  promoted  brevet  brig- 
adier general  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct  during  the  Atlanta  campaign.  His 
regiment  was  with  Thomas  at  Nashville  and 
participated  in  many  of  the  important  en- 
gagements of  the  great  war  which  at  length 
brought  salvation  to  the  imperilled  Union. 
He  was  ever  brave  and  loyal  in  the  discharge 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


of  his  duty  and  his  own  courage  inspired 
his  men  to  deeds  of  valor.  In  the  spring  of 
1865  he  was  given  command  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Ninety-fif'th  Ohio  Regiment 
and  served  in  the  valley  of  Virginia.  He 
was  commander  of  the  post  at  Alexandria 
and  in  December,  1865,  he  was  mustered 
out  as  brevet  major  general. 

General  Banning  put  aside  military  hon- 
or merely  to  receive  those  of  civil  life,  for 
in  1865  he  was  elected  by  Knox  county  to 
the  state  legislature.  In  1868  he  removed 
to  Cincinnati,  where  he  opened  an  office  and 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  his  compre- 
hensive knowledge  of  jurisprudence,  his 
ability  in  the  court  room  and  his  careful 
preparation  of  cases  gaining  for  him  a  large 
and  important  clientage.  In  1872  he  was 
again  called  to  public  life  being  elected  to 
congress  on  the  Democratic  ticket  over 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  and  later  for  the  same 
office  he  defeated  Job  Stevenson  and  Stan- 
ley Mathews.  He  was  twice  re-elected  and 
his  work  in  the  council  chambers  of  his  na- 
tion was  of  an  important  character.  His 
loyalty  was  above  question  and  with  unfal- 
tering purpose  he  supported  the  measures 
which  he  believed  would  advance  the  coun- 
try's welfare.  His  death  occurred  Decem- 
ber 10,  1 88 1,  and  Ohio  lost  a  citizen  whose 
career  (reflected  credit  upon  her  military, 
legal  and  political  history.  On  the  politi- 
cal stage  such  was  his  personal  popularity 
and  such  his  personal  magnetism  that  his 
appearance  to  address  the  people  was  the 
signal  for  tumultuos  enthusiasm.  His  was 
a  sturdy  American  character  and  a  stalwart 
patriotism,  and  he  had  the  strongest  attach- 
ment for  our  free  institutions  and  was  e\er 
willing  to  make  any  personal  sacrifice  for 
their  preservation. 


In  1868  Mr.  Banning  married  Julia 
Kirby,  a  daughter  of  Timothy  Kirby,  of  Cin- 
cinnati. They  had  four  children:  Kirby, 
deceased;  Harry  B. ;  Ella  K. ;  and  Clin- 
ton K. 


MRS.  BELLE  C.  JOHNSON. 

Mrs.  Belle  C.  Johnson  was  born  on  the 
farm  adjoining  the  one  on  which  she  now  re- 
sides, and  is  a  daughter  of  George  W.  and 
Margaret  (Morton)  Davis.  She  was  one 
of  four  children,  three  of  whom  still  sur- 
vive. Her  sister  Emma  became  the  wife  of 
Earl  Squires,  of  Granville,  Knox  county, 
and  her  brother,  John,  is  a  resident  of  Mount 
Vernon,  Illinois.  The  father,  George  W. 
Davis,  who  was  born  on  the  farm-  in  Clin- 
ton township  on  which  Mr.  John  S.  Abbott 
now  resides,  January  9,  182 1,  wasi  a  son  of 
Alexander  and  Isabelle  (Beam)  Davis.  The 
Davis  family  is  of  German  descent,  and 
George  Davis,  the  father  of  Alexander, 
came  to  this  state  from  Culpepper  Court 
House,  Virginia,  about  the  year  1800  and 
settled  on  the  land  now  owned  by  M.  M. 
Kelly,  which  place  at  the  time  of  the  form- 
er's death  descended  to  his  son  Alexander. 
Alexander  Davis  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  18 12,  receiving  for  services  rendered 
land  warrants,  which  he  aftefrward  located 
in  Iowa,  taking  up  military  lands  in  that 
state. 

His  wife  came  with  her  parents  from 
New  Jersey  to  the  Buckeye  state,  and  their 
marriage  was  celebrated  in  Knox  county. 
Their  original  homestead  now  constitutes 
the  farms  owned  by  John  S.  Abbott,  M.  M. 
Kelly,  Ransom  Shinabury  and  C.  C.  Abbott, 
but  later  they  sold  their  holdings  here  and 


172 


A    CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


went  tO'  Warren  county,  Ohio,  where  Mr. 
Davis  purchased  large  tracts  of  land  in  the 
Little  Miami  bottoms,  near  Morrow  and 
there  his  death  occurred.  George  W.  Davis, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  spent  the  days  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth  in  Knox  county,  and 
after  reaching  mature  years  he  was  given  the 
old  home  farm,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life 
with  the  exception  of  three  years  when  he 
made  his  home  near  the  town  in  order  that 
his  children  might  enjoy  the  advantages  of 
the  city  schools.  At  his  death  he  owned  one 
hundred  and  eight  acres  of  land  at  Hunt's 
Station,  which  was  afterward  sold  to  E. 
Hamilton.  Eighty  acres  south  of  Mount 
Vernon  was  sold  to  Dr.  Pumphrey,  while 
his  home  farm  of  ninety-two  acres  is  still  in 
possession  of  his  wife,  Margaret  Davis. 

His  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in 
1865,  when;  he  had  reached  the  age  of  forty- 
four  years.  He  was  a  Republican  in  his 
political  views,  and,  although  never  an  as- 
pirant for  political  honors,  he  took  an  active 
interest  in  the  issues  and  questions  of  the 
day,  and  was  at  all  times  a  public-spirited 
and  wide-awake  citizen.  Although  not  a 
member  of  any  religious  denomination,  he 
attended  the  services  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  did  whatever  he  could  to  spread 
the  cause  of  Christianity  among  his  fellow 
men.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Pennsylvania,  was  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Margaret  (Welsh)  Morton,  who 
came  to  the  Buckeye  state  in  1835,  locating 
in  Clinton  township,  Knox  county.  The 
Morton  family  is  of  Irish  extraction. 

Mrs.  Belle  C.  Johnson,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  review,  was  reared  to  mature 
years  in  the  county  of  her  nativity,  and  was 
educated  in  the  Mount  Vernon  High  School. 
In  1879  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Isaac 


Johnson,  and  he,  too,  v>as  a  native  of  Clin- 
ton township,  born  on  the  20th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1818,  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Isabelle 
(Adams)  Johnson.  He  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Knox  county  and  Mount  Vernon,  after 
which  he  became  a  student  in  the  Dennison 
University.  After  his  marriage,  which  oc- 
curred in  his  sixtieth  year,  he  located  on 
the  farm  on  which  his  widow  now  resides. 
He  was  very  successful  in  his  farming  and 
stock  raising  interests,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  his  landed  property  in  this  county 
and  western  states  comprised  thirteen  hun- 
dred acres.  He  gave  his  political  support 
to  the  Democracy,  but  was  never  a  politi- 
cian in  any  sense  of  the  word,  preferring  to 
give  his  time  to  his  business  affairs.  So- 
cially he  was  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  closed  his  eyes 
in  death  at  his  old  home  in  Clinton  township 
on  the  2 1  St  of  October,  1893.  The  entire 
community  mourned  his  loss,  for  he  was  a 
man  of  incalculable  worth  to  his  locality. 
His  career  was  that  of  an  honorable,  en- 
terprising and  progressive  business  man, 
whose  well-rounded  character  also  enabled 
him  toi  take  an  active  interest  in  educational, 
social  and  moral  affairs.  In  all  life's  rela- 
tions he  commanded  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  those  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact, and  the  memory  of  his  upright  life 
is  an  inspiration  to  the  many  friends  who 
knew  him  well  and  were  familiar  with  his. 
virtues. 

Three  children  blessed  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Johnson,  namely :  Alice,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  Harcourt  Place  Seminary,  and 
attended  school  at  the  Granville  Female 
College,  is  at  home;  Isaac  Sterling  is  at- 
tending school  at  the  Pennsvlvania  Military 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


f73 


College,  of  Chester,  Pennsylvania ;  and  Har- 
old C.  is  attending  the  Doane  Academy,  of 
Granville.  Mrs.  Johnson  and  her  daughter 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


L.  L.  WILLIAMS,  M.  D. 

For  ten  years  Dr.  L.  L.  Williams  has 
been  numbered  among  the  medical  practi- 
tioners of  Mount  Vernon.  He  is  a  native 
of  Licking  county,  Ohio,  his  birth  having 
there  occurred  in  1858.  His  father,  John 
W.  Williams,  was  born  in  Fairfield  county, 
Ohio,  and  at  an  early  day  removed  to  Lick- 
ing county,  where  he  died  many  years  ago. 
His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  J. 
Scott,  and  was  a  daughter  of  James  Scott, 
who  removed  from  Pennsylvania,  where  his 
daughter  was  born,  t®  Milton  township, 
Knox  county,  Ohio. 

Under  the  parental  roof  the  Doctor  spent 
the  days  of  his  childhood  and  youth  and  in 
the  public  schools  acquired  his  education. 
When  the  time  came  for  him  tO'  make  choice 
of  a  vocation  which  he  wished  to  follow  as 
a  life  work  he  determined  to  give  his  time 
and  energies  to  the  practice  of  the  healing 
art  and  to  the  alleviation  of  liviman  suffer- 
ing. As  a  preparation  for  the  profession  he 
entered  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  of 
Philadelphia  and  on  the  completion  of  his 
course  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1882. 
He  then  established  an  office  and  practiced 
in  Reedtown,  Seneca  county,  until  1891, 
when  he  removed  to  Mount  Vernon  to  suc- 
ceed Dr.  Robinson,  deceased.  Here  he  has 
since  been  an  active  practitioner.  He  was 
not  long  in  demonstrating  his  ability  and  a 
liberal  patronage  was  therefore  accorded 
him. 


The  Doctor  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emma  Crumley,  of  Mount  Vernon,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Crumley,  of  Coshocton 
county.  The  hospitality  of  the  best  homes 
of  this  city  is  extended  to  them  and  the  cir- 
cle of  their  friends  is  constantly  widening 
as  their  acquaintances  increased.  Dr.  Will- 
iams is  a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
of  Mount  Vernon,  to  which  position  he  was 
appointed  in  1899  for  a  three  years'  term. 
The  schools  find  in  him  a  warm  friend  and 
he  also  co-operates  heartily  in  any  movement 
which  he  believes  will  be  for  the  general 
good  along  any  line  of  progress.  He  is 
well  known  in  Masonic  circles,  is  connected 
with  the  commandery  of  Mount  Vernon  and 
belongs  to  the  mystic  shrine  in  Columbus. 
He  is  justly  regarded  as  one  oi  the  skillful 
physicians  of  his  locality.  His  knowledge 
and  ability  in  medical  and  surgical  science 
and  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  health  of 
the  body,  his  intelligence  in  other  lines  of 
study  and  his  manly  character  alike  entitle 
him  to  esteem,  and  he  is  regarded  with  the 
highest  respect  in  this  and  other  communi- 
ties. 


ROBERT  C.  ANDERSON. 

Robert  C.  Anderson,  a  prominent  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  Mount  Vernon,  was 
born  in  Clinton  township,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  in  1850,  a  son  of  David  McCord  and 
Hannah  (Hamill)  Anderson.  Robert  An- 
derson, the  grandfather,  became  a  very  early 
settler  of  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
passing  away  in  1823.  His  wife  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Jane  Hay.  Our  subject's 
paternal  great-grandfather  married  a  Miss 


174 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


McCord,  in  whose  honor  McCord's  Fort, 
in  Pennsylvania  was  named.  Her  family 
was  killed  by  Indians  but  she  was  saved  by 
being  placed  between  two  ticks.  David  Mc- 
Cord Anderson,  the  father  of  him  whose 
name  forms  the  caption  of  this  article,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1814,  and  when  twenty-eight  years  of  age 
he  left  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  came 
to  KnO'X  county,  Ohio,  locating  on  a  fann 
in  Clinton  township.  There  he  made  his 
home  until  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest, 
dying  in  1897,  when  nearly  eighty-fonr 
years  of  age.  He  held  many  positions  of 
honor  and  trust  in  his  township,  and  was 
one  of  the  leading  and  influential  residents 
of  his  locality.  As  a  companion  on  the 
journey  of  life  he  chose  Hannah  J.  Hamill, 
who  was  also  born  in  1814,  a  daughter  of 
John  C.  and  Nancy  (Stewart)  Hamill,  who 
removed  from  near  Parkesburg,  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Clinton  townships 
Knox  county,  about  1820.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  participated  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  his  older  brothers  took 
part  in  the  struggle  which  brought  independ- 
ence to  the  American  colonies.  The  Ham- 
ills  were  among  the  first  and  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  Upper  Octorara  Presbyterian 
church  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania, 
which  was  established  in  1720  by  Scotch- 
Irish  settlers.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ander- 
son were  born  five  children,  namely :  Anna 
Adeline,  of  Mount  Vernon;  John  H.,  who, 
with  his  wife,  has  had  charge  of  the  chil- 
dren's home  in  this  city  since  its  inception; 
Thomas  M.,  of  Clinton  township,  Knox 
county;  Robert  C,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view; and  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  G.  W. 
Bell,  of  Bangs,  Ohio. 

Robert  C.  Anderson  was  reared  to  man- 


hood on  his  fathers  farm  in  Clinton  town- 
ship, and  after  taking  up  the  battle  of  life 
on  his  own  account  he  engaged  in  contract- 
ing and  building  in  Mount  Vernon,  which 
occupation  has  claimed  his  time  and  atten- 
tion for  thirty-one  years.  In  his  chosen  line 
of  endeavor  he  has  indeed  met  with  flatter- 
ing success,  and  many  of  the  finest  buildings 
of  the  city  and  surrounding  country  stand 
as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  ability.  For 
his  wife  he  chose  Miss  Alice  E.  Wilkins,  of 
Clinton  township,  a  daughter  of  Francis 
and  Emeline  (Williams)  Wilkins,  also  of 
this  township.  Both  the  Williams  and  Wil- 
kins families  were  among  the  early  pioneer 
settlers  of  Knox  county.  The  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Anderson  has  been  blessed  with 
three  children,  Walter  Stewart,  Clarence 
Hamill  and  Stella  May.  Mr.  Anderson  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  contractors 
and  one  of  the  reliable  business  men  of  hi,s 
locality  and  enjoys  the  high  regard  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 


JOHN  RICHERT. 

John  Richert  is  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Brown  township  and  the  property  which 
he  owns  stands  in  visible  evidence  of  his  life 
industry  and  enterprise.  He  was  born  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  Augiist  23,  1839.  His 
father,  George  Richert,  was  a  native  of  Al- 
sace, France,  now  a  province  of  Germany, 
and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to 
America,  settling  in  Stark  comity,  Ohio, 
whence  he  removed  to  Brown  township, 
Knox  county,  where  he  is  still  living,  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  eighty-six  years.  He  mar- 
ried  Barbara   Limmans,    a    native   of   Ger- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


'75 


many,  and  who  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the 
new  world  when  about  twelve  years  of  age. 
She  has  now  passed  the  eighty-second  mile- 
stone o<n  life's  journey  and  this  venerable 
couple  enjoy  in  a  high  degree  the  warm  re- 
gard of  friends  and  neighbors.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  eleven  children,  all  ofj 
whom  reached  mature  years  and  were  mar- 
ried, while  ten  of  them  are  yet  living. 

John  Richert,  the  eldest  of  the  family, 
was  but  a  year  old  when  he  came  to  Knox 
county.  He  was  reared  in  Brown  town- 
ship, amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life 
and  pursued  his  education  in  the  log  school 
house,  furnished  after  the  primitive  man- 
ner of  the  times.  In  1859  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, making  the  journey  by  way  of  New 
York,  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  Mexico. 
At  length  he  arrived  at  San  Francisco, 
whence  he  went  to  the  mountains,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  mining  for  four  years.  He 
was  at  Virginia  City  at  the  time  of  the  first 
great  mining  excitement  in  that  town  and 
for  a  year  was  engaged  in  the  butchering 
business  there.  In  1864  he  returned  to 
Knox  county,  but  the  following  year  again 
went  to  the  "Golden  State,"  making  the 
journey  by  way  of  Graytowm.  After  reach- 
ing the  Golden  Gate  he  once  more  proceeded 
into  the  mountainous  districts  and  was  em- 
ployed as  a  salesman  in  a  dry  goods  store  at 
Holland  Fleet  for  about  one  year. 

On  the  expiration  of  that  period  Mr. 
Richert  returned  to  this  county  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  acres  of  land,  upon 
which  he  now  resides,  paying  four  thousand 
dollars  for  the  place.  There  were  no  build- 
ings upon  the  tract,  but  with  characteristic 
energy  he  began  to  improve  his  farm  and 
cultivate  the  fields.  He  has  erected  a 
modern    residence,    substantial    barns    and 


out-buildings  and  added  all  the  acces- 
sories which  are  found  upon  a  model 
farm,  which  indicate  the  progressive  spirit 
of  the  owner.  As  his  financial  resources 
have  increased  he  has  added  to  the  property 
until  he  now  has  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  acres,  constituting  one  of  the  best 
farms  in -the  township.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  continuous  industry.  He  has  placed 
his  dependence  in  the  substantial  qualities 
of  earnest  labor  and  perseverance  and  thus 
he  has  continually  advanced  until  he  now 
occupies  a  position  among  the  best  agricul- 
turists of  his  community. 

February  8,  1866,  Mr.  Richert  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Oswalt,  a 
native  of  Jefferson  township,  Knox  county, 
and  their  home  has  been  blessed  with  five 
living  children,  namely :  Sarah  L.,  the  wife 
of  W.  A.  Lifert;  George,  of  Akron,  Ohio, 
who  has  been  connected  with  the  Goodrich 
Rubber  Works  for  over  seven  years ;  Ed- 
ward, who  for  five  years  has  been  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  same  company  in  Akron ;  Wal- 
ter, a  resident  farmer  of  Brown  township; 
and  Arthur,  at  home.  They  also  lost  one 
child,  Curtis  S.  All  were  born  in  Brown 
township,  and  the  family  is  a  creditable  one 
to  the  parents.  Mr.  Richert  has  served  as 
treasurer  of  his  township  for  seven  years 
and  was  trustee  for  nine  years,  his  long  con- 
tinuance in  these  offices  indicating  unmistak- 
ably his  faithfulness  to  duty  and  his  capa- 
bility. He  votes  with  the  Democracy  and 
does  all  in  his  power  for  its  advancement. 
His  religious  belief  is  indicated  by  his  mem- 
bership in  the  Lutheran  church.  Almost  his 
entire  life  has  been  spent  in  Knox  county 
and  therefore  he  has  witnessed  much  of  its 
development  as  it  has  been  transformed 
from  a  wild  region  into  one  of  the  populous 


176 


A   CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


counties  of  the  state.  He  has  ever  borne  his 
part  in  the  work  of  progress  and  improve- 
ment and  is  a  loyal  citizen,  enterprising- 
farmer  and  an  upright  man  he  is  widely  and 
favorably  known. 


FRED   W.   JONES. 


Fred  W.  Jones,  a  prominait  railroad 
contractor  and  builder  of  Mount  Vernon, 
is  a  native  son  of  this  city.  After  attend- 
ing the  public  schools  here  he  matriculated  in 
the  academy  at  Denmark,  Iowa,  where  he 
received  excellent  educational  advantages. 
In  1867  he  became  identified  with  railroad 
work,  first  as  a  brakenian,  and  later  served 
as  a  baggage  master,  conductor  and  express 
agent.  In  1869  he  came  to  Mount  Vernon, 
entering  the  office  of  the  Cleveland,  Akron 
&  Columbus  Railroad  with  his  father,  Gos- 
horn  A.  Jones,  who  was  manager  of  the 
road,  and  our  subject  was  thus  engaged  un- 
til 1 87 1,  when  he  took  his  first  contract  in 
railroad  building.  He  was  employed  to 
build  an  extension  of  the  road  from  near 
Millersburg  to  Black  Creek,  a  distance  of 
ten  miles,  and  in  the  following  year  he  was 
put  in  charge  of  the  main  survey  department 
of  the  road,  having  charge  of  the  road  bed, 
bridges  and  construction  on  the  northern 
division  of  the  Cleveland,  Akron  &  Colum- 
bus Railroad.  After  remaining  with  that 
company  for  a  time  he  became  identified 
with  the  Cleveland,  Mount  Vernon  &  Co- 
lumbus road,  now  a  part  of  the  former  sys- 
tem. 

In  1875  the  headquarters  of  that  road 
was  removed  to  Mount  Vernon  from  Ak- 
ron, where  it  had  been  located  since  1869, 
and  Mr.  Jones  was  put  in  charge  of  the  en- 


tire road,  which  position  he  continued  to  fill 
until  1882,  and  in  that  year  his  father  was 
made  receiver  of  the  road.  Since  retiring 
from  that  position  our  subject  has  been  en- 
gaged in  railroad  contracting  and  in  this 
undertaking  he  has  indeed  met  with  a  very 
high  degree  of  success.  He  is  a  wide-awake, 
progressive,  active  and  energetic  business 
man,  and  his  name  is  closely  associated  with 
advancement  along  the  line  of  his  chosen 
occupation. 

Mr.  Jones  was  married,  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Mira  Wholf,  a  daugh- 
ter of  David  Wholf,  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the}^  have  five  children,  namely  :  Carrie,  the 
wife  of  O.  Patterson,  of  Denison,  Iowa;  G. 
A.,  a  prominent  railroad  builder  and  con- 
tractor of  Mount  Vernon;  Mary  B.,  at 
home;  Fred  R.,  who  is  engaged  in  business 
with  his  brother,  G.  A.  Jones,  business  being 
carried  on  under  the  name  of  Jones  Broth- 
ers; and  Frank  B.,  who  is  attending  school. 
The  family  enjoy  the  hospitality  of  the  best 
homes  of  the  city,  and  their  own  pleasant 
residence  is  the  center  of  a  cultured  society 
circle. 


JAMES    DICKSON. 


Any  work  purporting  to  include  the  bi- 
ographical and  genealogical  data  pertaining 
to  the  history  of  Wayne  township,  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  would  be  incomplete  if  it  did 
not  contain  adequate  mention  of  that  sterl- 
ing citizen  and  successful  farmer,  James 
Dickson,  and  his  antecedents  and  family 
connections. 

James  Dickson,  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Rood)  Dickson,  was  born  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives  in  Wavne  town- 


OF   KNOX   COUNTY,    OHIO. 


ship,  April  ii,  1845.  After  obtaining  an 
education  in  the  public  schools  he  gave  his 
time  wholly  to  farming,  in  which  he  has 
been  proficient  and  successful.  He  joined 
Thrall  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
No.  170,  about  1881,  and  is  well  known  in 
Masonic  circles  throughout  Knox  county. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church,  of  Fredericktown,  and  as  such  has 
done  everything  in  his  power  to  advance 
its  spiritual  and  material  interests.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Bricker  December  14,  1870, 
and  their  only  child,  Ray  B.,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1879,  '^"'i  remains  with  his  father 
on  the  farm.  Mrs.  Dickson  died  in  July, 
1898. 

Samuel  Dickson,  father  of  James  Dick- 
son, was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York 
August  19,  1794.  On  coming  to  Ohio  he 
located  in  Clinton  township,  Knox  county, 
and  later  he  removed  to  Wayne  township, 
where  he  proved  himself  a  progressive  farm- 
er and  citizen  and  did  much  to  clear  up  and 
improve  the  country  and  to  enhance  its  gen- 
eral prosperity.  That  he  was  a  man  of  much 
innate  patriotism  is  evidenced  by  the  fact 
that  when  a  mere  youth  he  becanae  a  soldier 
under  the  stars  and  stripes  and  served  his 
country  admirably  in  the  war  of  1812. 
Elizabeth  Rood,  whom  he  married,  was 
born  January  12,  1807,  a  daughter  of  Noah 
and  Mary  (Merrick)  Rood.  She  was  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
and  her  life,  which  terminated  July  i,  1875, 
was  in  every  way  worthy  of  emulation. 

Noah  Rood,  grandfather  of  James  Dick- 
son in  the  maternal  line,  came  to  Ohio 
from  Redstone,  Pennsylvania,  at  an  early 
date,  and  was  the  father  of  seven  children, 
named  William,  Samuel,  Elizabeth.  Mary, 
Mariah,  James  and  Anna. 


MORGAN  HAYS. 

One  of  several  citizens  of  Clay  township, 
Knox  count}',  Ohio,  who  were  especially 
conspicuous  for  their  sterling  worth  and 
who  have  passed  away  during  recent  years 
was  Morgan  Hays,  who  was  born  May  21, 
1821,  and  died  April  22,  1900. 

Morgan  Hays  was  a  native  of  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  the  youngest  son  of 
James  Hays,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and  married  a  Miss  Bell,  who  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  that  state.  When  he  was  a  small  boy 
death  visited  his  family  and  made  him  moth- 
erless, and  he  went  to  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  and  for  a  time  lived  with  a  brother 
and  with  his  sister  Elizabeth,  who  had  be- 
come a  Mrs.  Boggs.  His  educational  advan- 
tages were  limited  to  such  as  were  afforded 
by  the  public  schools  in  vogue  in  his  local- 
ity at  the  time  of  his  youth.  He  was  mar- 
vied  October  16,  1849,  when  he  was  about 
twenty-eight  years  old,  and  located  in  Har- 
rison township,  Knox  county,  where  he  lived 
on  one  farm  for  six  years  and  on  another 
farm  for  eleven  years  thereafter.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Pleasant  township  and  afterward 
to  Clay  township,  where  he  farmed  until 
1889  when  he  retired  from  active  life  and 
bought  the  homestead  in  the  village  of  Mar- 
tinsburg,  upon  which  Mrs.  Hays  now  lives. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  as  a 
man  of  influence  and  enterprise  he  was  well 
known  throughout  the  county. 

Deborah  A.  (Breece)  Hays,  widow  of 
Morgan  Hays,  was  born  in  Virginia  May 
18,  1828,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Eliza 
(Ward)  Breece.  Both  of  her  parents  died 
in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  when  she  was 
so  young  that  she  had  little  knowledge  of 
their  family  history,  the  youngest  child  hav- 


178 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


ing-  been  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  her 
mother  only  three  months  old.  They  left 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  she  was  the 
eighth  in  order  of  birth,  and  they  found 
homes  with  different  families,  she  at  the  age 
of  twelve  years,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ezekiel 
Boggs,  with  whom  she  lived  six  years.  Af- 
ter leaving  their  roof  she  supported  herself 
two  years  at  Mount  Vernon.  She  bore  her 
late  husband  a  son  and  a  daughter — Leander 
Hays,  county  commissioner  of  Knox  coun- 
ty, a  biographical  sketch  of  whom  appears 
in  this  work,  and  Elizabeth,  of  Gambier, 
Ohio,  who  is  the  widow  of  Mark  Workman. 
Mrs.  Hays  has  three  grandchildren.  Bertha 
Hays,  Howard  Hays  and  Estella  Workman. 
The  last  named  is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Horn. 
Mrs.  Hays,  who  is  a  member  of  the  Dis- 
ciples' church,  is  a  woman  of  high  character 
and  many  accomplishments  and  her  circle  of 
acquaintances  is  large  and  extremely  loyaJ 
to  her.  She  is  one  of  the  well-to-do  women 
of  Knox  county,  owning  a  fine  fann  of 
eighty  acres,  which,  since  her  husband's 
death  she  has  managed  with  much  ability. 


HUGH  L.   GREEN. 


If  there  is  a  farmer  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  who  may  fittingly  be  termed  a  man 
of  public  affairs  it  is  the  gentleman  whose 
name  is  above  and  who  was  born  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  on  section 
eighteen,  Harrison  township,  April  29,  1854. 

Daniel  Green,  father  of  Hugh  L.  Green, 
was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  at 
the  age  of  six  years  was  brought  to  Harri- 
son township  by  his  parents,  William  Green 
and  wife.     That  was  as  long  ago  as  1825,. 


and  he  grew  up  and  prospered,  and  died  in 
the  township  in  1895,  in  the  seventy-seventh 
year  of  his  age.  As  a  Whig  he  voted  for 
William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840  and  as  z 
Republican  he  cast  his  last  vote  for  Will- 
iam McKinley  for  governor  of  Ohio  in  1893. 
William  Green,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  located  in  Harrison  town- 
ship seventy-seven  years  ago,  taking  up  his 
residence  in  the  log  house  in  which  he  ended 
his  days. 

Daniel  Green  married  Lydia  Bowman,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  who  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years  was  brought  to  Knox  county  by  her 
mother  and  stepfather,  named  Whitmer. 
She  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-six' years.  Dan- 
iel and  Lydia  (Bowman)  Green  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living,  the  youngest  being  now  a  little  more 
than  forty  years  old.  Hugh  L.  Green  wa.s 
the  sixth  of  these  children  in  order  of  birth. 
He  was  reared  on  the  farm  which  is  now 
his  home  and  attended  the  common  school 
in  the  district  in  which  it  is  included.  Later 
he  was  a  student  in  the  normal  school  at 
Liscomb,  Marshall  county,  Iowa,  and  fin- 
ished his  studies  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  He 
taught  school  in  Harrison  and  adjoining 
townships  for  eighteen  years,  or  until  1892, 
since  which  time  he  has  given  his  attention 
to  other  matters.  In  1880  he  was  appointed 
to  a  clerical  position  in  the  census  depart- 
ment at  Washington,  in  which  he  ranained 
but  a  few  months,  and  in  1890  he  was  made 
census  enumerator.  In  1899  he  was  a  can- 
didate for  a  member  of  the  Ohio  state  leg- 
islature. He  is  a  Republican  of  the  stanch- 
es t  type,  always  alert  and  active  in  political 
work,  always  devoted  to  the  principles  of  the 
party  of  Lincoln,  of  Garfield  and  of  Mc- 
Kinley, always    patriotically    solicitous    for 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


the  progress  and  prosperity  of  his  township, 
county,  state  and  country,  and  is  often  found 
as  a  delegate  to  the  party  conventions.  He 
is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  199,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  Bladensburg,  and  is 
identified  with  the  Disciples'  church  in  which 
he  fills  the  office  of  deacon.  He  was  also  a 
member  and  was  chairman  of  its  finance 
committee  in  1898  at  the  time  of  the  erec- 
tion of  the  house  of  worship  at  "the  grove." 
His  home  farm  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  and  he  owns  another  farm  of 
fifty-three  acres  in  Clay  township. 

Mr.  Green  was  married  August  21,  1888, 
to  Miss  Luella  Martin,  a  daughter  of  George 
R.  and  Agnes  P.  (Shiply)  Martin,  and  a 
native  of  Clinton  township,  Knox  county. 
Mrs.  Green  was  the  seventh  born  of  a  fam- 
ily of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity  excepting  one,  who  died  in  infancy. 
She  has  borne  her  husband  three  children, 
named  Helen  Lee,  Ruth  Elda  and  Ronald 
Martin. 

The  family  of  Green,  Oif  which  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  is  a  representative,  is  of 
Welsh  descent  and  for  many  generations  has 
been  prominent  in  its  native  land.  Daniel 
Green,  father  of  Hugh  L.  Green,  was  the 
oldest  of  the  family  of  ten  children.  In  all 
generations  the  Greens  have  given  attention 
to  public  affairs  and  Mr.  Green's  counsel  is 
sought  on  important  matters  of  many  kinds 
by  his  fellow  townsmen. 


GEORGE  A-  WELKER,  M.  D. 

Dr.  George  A.  Welker  is  a  prominent 
f)hysiciaM  of  Ankenytown,  for  his  careful 
preparation,  his  broad  knowledge  of  the  sci- 


ence of  medicine  and  his  practical  skill  in 
applying  it  to  the  needs  of  suffering  hu- 
manity, have  gained  him  precedence  in  his 
chosen  calling.  He  was  born  in  Union 
township,  Kno'X  county,  December  10,  1839, 
and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest 
families  in  this  portion  of .  the  state.  His 
great-grandfather  came  to  Knox  cotmty  in 
1807,  bringing  with  him  his  family,  but  he 
was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new 
home  as  death  came  to  him.  He  was  of 
German  descent.  His  son,  David  Welker, 
was  a.  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a 
young  and  single  man  when  with  his  par- 
ents he  came  to  the  Buckeye  state.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  McMillan,  who  was  of  Irish  de- 
scent and  their  son  was  Paul  Welker,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  in 
Union  township,  Knox  county,  in  1813. 
After  arriving  at  mature  years  he  was 
there  married  to  Christina  Ankeny,  a  native 
of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
whence  she  came  to  Knox  county  at  about 
the  age  of  fifteen  years.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  George  Ankeny,  one  of  the  hon- 
ored early  settlers  of  Berlin  township,  in 
whose  honor  the  village  of  Ankeny  was^ 
named.  By  trade  he  was  a  blacksmith  and 
there  carried  on  business  with  creditable  suc- 
cess. A  man  of  strong  character,  he  was 
recognized  as  a  leading  and  influential  citi- 
zen of  the  community  and  was  prominent  in 
politics,  serving  as  a  micmber  of  the  state 
legislature  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His 
political  support  was  given  tO'  the  Democ- 
racy and  his  labors  contributed  largely  to 
its  growth  and  success.  He  passed  away 
when  about  fifty-five  years  of  age.  The  fam- 
ily from  which  he  sprung  was  of  Dutch  line- 
age. 

After  his  marriage  Paul  Welker  began 


i8o 


A    CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


farming  on  his  own  account  in  Union  town- 
ship and  there  devoted  his  energies  to  agri- 
cuUural  pursuits  throughout  his  remaining 
days.  For  about  thirty  years  he  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  proving  a  most  capable 
officer  and  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years 
he  was  called  to  his  final  rest.  His  wife  long 
survived  him  and  died  when  about  eighty 
years  of  age.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children,  of  whom  the  Doctor  is  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  David,  Sylvester 
and  Mary  B. 

Dr.  Welker  was  only  four  years  old 
when  he  was  taken  tO'  Howard  township 
and  there  he  was  reared  and  educated,  at- 
tending the  district  schools  and  also  the 
academy  in  Millwood.  He  began  the  study 
of  medicine  at  the  age  of  nineteen  under  the 
direction  of  the  firm  of  McMann  &  Camp- 
bell at  Millwood.  They  directed  his  read- 
ing for  two  years  and  after  attaining  his 
majority  he  became  a  student  in  the  medical 
department  of  the  State  University  of  Mich- 
igan, at  Ann  Arbor,  continuing  in  that  in- 
stitution for  six  months.  He  then  began 
practice,  which  he  successfully  followed  for 
twelve  years,  when  he  entered  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Wooster,  in 
which  he  was  graduated.  In  September, 
1866,  he  came  to  Ankenytown,  but  for  two 
years  previously  he  practiced  at  Greersville, 
and  for  two'  and  one-half  years  at  Millwood. 
He  has  been  established  in  his  profession  in 
this  place  for  thirty-five  years  and  is  one  of 
the  oldest  practicing  physicians  of  the  coun- 
ty. He  has  kept  in  touch  with  modern  meth- 
ods of  progress  and  has  ever  enjoyed  a  large 
and  growing  patronage.  He  owns  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  which  is  well  im- 
proved and  his  interest  in  agricultural  pur- 


suits is  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the 
Grange,  of  which  he  is  treasurer. 

The  Doctor  was  married  in  1863  to  Miss 
Emma  Giffin,  a  native  of  Berlin  township 
and  a  daughter  of  Lauriston  and  Lucia 
Gifiin.  They  now  have  twoi  children :  Nan- 
nie B.,  the  wife  of  Henry  B.  Adams;  and 
Harry  B.,  who  married  Minnie  Martin,  and 
resides  upon  his  father's  farm. 

At  one  time  the  Doctor  was  a  member  of 
the  North  Central  Medical  Society.  He  is 
now  associated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
belonging  to  the  lodge  in  Fredericktown.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  and 
is  serving  as  one  of  its  trustees  and  is  active 
and  influential  in  its  work.  Of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  he  is  a  supporter  and  for  two 
terms  he  served  as  coroner  of  the  county, 
while  for  one  term  he  was  treasurer  of  his 
township.  As  a  citizen,  friend  and  member 
of  the  medical  profession  he  ranks  high.  His 
work  has  been  of  great  benefit  to  his  fellow 
men  and  his  success  is  a  merited  reward  of 
thorough  equipment  and  conscientious 
ability. 


JAMES  M.  CANNON. 

James  Madison  Cannon  a  son  of  Zeph- 
aniah  and  Matilda  (Painter)  Cannon,  was 
born  in  Clay  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
May  15,  1843,  3-"d  resided  with  his  parents 
until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when,  at  a  call 
by  Abraham  Lincoln  for  troops  his  patri- 
otism became  fully  aroused  and  he  enlisted 
in  Company  E,  Twelfth  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, commanded  by  Captain  Aaron  Chan- 
nell.  Captain,  now  General,  Otis  succeeded 
to  the  command  after  the  death  of  Channell, 


OE  KNOX   COUNTY,   OHIO. 


and  they  were  immediately  sent  to  the  front, 
the  company  forming  a  part  of  Colonel 
White's  regiment.  Mr.  Cannon  took  part 
in  about  twenty-two  battles  and  skirmishes, 
the  more  important  ones  being  Antietam, 
Clpyd  Mountain,  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek 
and  Lynchburg.  He  was  with  Colonel  Av- 
ery for  a  year  in  front  of  Petersburg  or  until 
the  surrender  and  evacuation  of  that  place. 
He  was  also  present  at  Appomattox  Court 
House  when  the  middle  section  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  surrendered  to  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac. 

Returning  home  at  the  close  of  the  war 
Mr.  Cannon  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret 
Painter,  on  January  i,  1867.  She  was  bom 
in  Fallsburg  township.  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  namely:  Melissa;  William,  de- 
ceased in  infancy ;  Edna  Elnora ;  Jacob  E. ; 
Gertrude  A.,  deceased;  John  Wesley;  Sadie; 
Callie ;  Anna  F. ;  Zephaniah  M. ;  and  Charles 
Albert.  Politically  Mr.  Cannon  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  is  highly  respected  by  all  who 
know  him. 


ANDREW  BECHTEL. 

Andrew  Bechtel,  who  is  now  serving  as 
township  trustee  in  Berlin  township  and  is 
there  engaged'  in  farming,  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Huntington  county,  on  the  20th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1829.  He  is  the  eldest  of  the  ten  chil- 
dren of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Snowbarger) 
Bechtel,  who  were  also  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone state,  the  father  having  been  born  in 
Huntington  county,  while  the  mother's  birth 
occurred  in  Bedford  county.  They  had  six 
sons  and  four  daughters.     The  father  was 


a  farmer  by  occupation  and  followed  that 
pursuit  throughout  his  entire  life.  He  died 
in  the  place  of  his  nativity  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-eight years,  while  his  wife  passed  way 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six. 

In  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  An- 
drew Bechtel  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood, 
his  time  being  ocupied  with  play  and  work 
and  the  duties  of  the  schoolroom.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  his  marriage,  which 
important  event  in  his  life  occurred  in  1852, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Brumbaugh  becoming  his 
wife.  She  was  born  in  Bedford  county  and 
died  in  1861.  Of  her  four  children,  three 
are  living — Simon,  Jackson  and  Nancy  Jane, 
while  Mary  Ann-  is  now  deceased.  For  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Bechtel  chose  Elizabeth 
Frederick  and  unto  them  have  been  born 
four  children,  the  living  being  Lewis  F., 
Sarah  E.  and  Minnie  C.  They  lost  one  son, 
Isaac. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Bechtel  arrived  in  Berlin 
township,  Knox  county,  locating  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  township,  where  he  remained 
for  twenty  and  a  half  years.  He  then  came 
to  his  present  residence  and  here  he  owns 
and  operates  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
acres  of  rich  land,  which  yields  to  him  good 
harvests  in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  he 
bestows  upon  the  fields.  He  erected  his  res- 
idence here  and  has  made  many  other  sub- 
stantial improvements,  which  add  both  to 
the  value  and  attractive  appearance  of  the 
place.  He  follows  general  farming  and 
stock  raising  and  upon  his  place  are  seen 
excellent  grades  of  stock. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Bechtel 
has  always  been  a  Republican,  never  failing 
to  cast  his  ballot  for  the  men  and  measures 
of  that  party.  His  fellow  townsmen,  rec- 
ognizing his  worth  and  ability,  elected  him 


I82 


A    CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


township  trustee  in  1900  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  He  belongs  to  the  German  Baptist 
church,  is  one  of  it»  trustees  and  in  its  work 
is  deeply  interested,  as  is  evidenced  by  his 
co-operation  therein.  A  public-spirited  cit- 
izen he  accords  his  support  to  all  measures 
which  he  believes  will  be  for  the  general 
good  and  as  a  man  and  citizen  he  is  ac- 
knowledged to  be  one  of  the  most  worthy 
representatives  of  the  community. 


ISAAC  LYON  JACKSON. 

Almost  an  octogenarian,  Isaac  L.  Jack- 
son has  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  farm 
where  he  is  now  living,  his  birth  having 
there  occurred  on  the  25th  of  March,  1823. 
He  has  since  been  identified  with  the  work 
of  agriculture,  which  Washington  said  "is 
the  most  honorable  as  well  as  the  most  use- 
ful business  to  which  man  can  devote  his 
energies."  He  is  of  English  and  Scotch 
extraction  and  is  descended  from  good  old 
Revolutionary  stock.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Benjamin  Jackson,  was  a  native  of 
Morris  county,  New  Jersey,  and  when  the 
colonists  fought  for  freedom  he  became  a 
major  in  the  American  army  and  valiantly 
aided  in  the  cause  of  independence.  He 
was  a  bloomer  by  trade,  and,  living  near 
Valley  Forge  at  the  time  the  American 
troops  were  there  encamped,  he  was  em- 
ployed in  making  chevaux  de  frise,  a  large 
pronged  iron  to  cast  in  the  river  in  order  to 
obstruct  the  stream  and  render  it  unnavi- 
gable.  He  married  Abigail  Mitchell,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Morris  coimty,  New 
Jersey,  and  some  years  after  the  removal 
of  his  son  Ziba  to  Ohio   he    also   came    to 


Knox  county  and  settled  in  Morris  town- 
ship. 

Ziba  Jackson,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Morris  county.  New  Jersey, 
February  2,  1777,  and  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  his  native  state.  He  began  his 
business  career  there  as  a  farmer,  and  for 
a  companion  and  helpmate  on  the  journey 
of  life  he  chose  Miss  Phoebe  Lyon,  who 
was  born  in  Sussex  county,  that  state,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1782,  her  parents  being  Abraham 
and  Phoebe  (Kitchen)  Lyon,  who  were  also 
natives  of  Sussex  county  and  belonged  to  an 
old  family  there,  the  ancestors  coming  from 
England  at  an  early  epoch  in  American  his- 
tory. Abraham  Lyon  was  a  captain  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  his  sword,  now  in 
possession  of  Judson  Trowbridge,  of  Michi- 
gan, was  sent  to  the  family  reunion  recently 
held  in  this  county.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
L>x>n  died  in  New  Jersey. 

Two  of  their  children  were  born  to  Ziba 
and  Phoebe  Jackson  in  the  state  of  their 
nativity,  and  with  his  little  family  he  started 
westward  in  1805.  Being  a  poor  man  he 
had  to  remain  in  Pennsylvania  for  eighteen 
months  in  order  to  earn  the  funds  necessary 
for  the  completion  of  the  journey.  In  1807 
he  again  turned  his  face  toward  the  setting 
sun,  arriving  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  the 
spring  of  that  year.  We  of  the  twentieth 
century  can  scarcely  realize  what  were  the 
conditions  of  the  country  at  that  time. 
Nearly  all  of  the  land  was  still  in  possession 
of  the  government  and  was  largely  cov- 
ered with  a  dense  growtli  of  timber.  There 
were  marshy  districts  and  here  and  there, 
at  rare  intervals,  a  blue  line  of  smoke  rising 
from  amid  the  trees  indicated  that  a  settle- 
ment had  been  made  by  some  brave  frontier- 
man  and  the  work  of  improvement  had  been 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


183 


begun.  Mr.  Jackson  purchased  a  small 
place  near  the  Salem  church  in  Wayne 
township,  and  the  first  year  cleared  a  little 
patch  of  ground  and  planted  some  corn. 
Steadily  he  continued  the  work  of  develop- 
ment, planted  an  orchard  and  made  other 
improvements,  but  later  he  sold  that  prop- 
erty and  removed  to  what  is  now  known  as 
the  old  David  Ball  farm,  also  in  Wayne 
township.  In  1814  he  traded  that  property 
for  the  present  Jackson  homestead  upon 
which  our  subject  now  resides.  He  there 
built  a  log  cabin  and' in  the  spring  of  1815 
removed  his  family  to-  his  new  home,  where 
he  resided  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1848,  when  he  was  in  his 
seventy-second  year.  During  the  year  of 
18 1 2  he  served  his  country  as  first  sergeant, 
and  in  the  paths  of  peace  he  also  performed 
an  active  work  for  his  native  land  by  carry- 
ing civilization  to  the  frontier  and  aiding  in 
reclaiming  the  wild  land  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  white  race.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics  and  for  several  years  he  was 
trustee  of  his  township,  proving  a  very 
capable  officer.  His  wife  passed  away  July 
II,  1836. 

Isaac  L.  Jackson  was  one  of  a  family  of 
se\-en  children  born  tO'  this  worthy  and  hon- 
ored pioneer  couple,  but  only  two  of  the 
number  are  now  living,  the  other  being 
Chalon,  of  Lynn  county,  Missouri,  now  in 
his  eighty-seventh  year.  Amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  frontier  life  Isaac  L.  Jackson  was 
reared,  sharing  with  the  family  in  the  hard- 
ships and  trials  which  are  the  inevitable  lot 
of  pioneer  people,  but  there  were  certain 
pleasure  to  be  enjoyed  that  are  unknown  at 
the  present  time,  and  thus  the  years  were 
checkered  with  work  and  happiness.  In  the 
pr.milive  schools  of  the  time  he  pursued  his 


education,  and  on  the  13th  of  April,  1848, 
there  occurred  an  important  event  in  his  life 
— his  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Jackson, 
a  native  of  Knox  county  and  a  daughter  oi 
Ephraim  and  Nancy  Jackson,  and  who  was 
formerly  his  pupil.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  on  a  part  of  his  father's  farm, 
of  which  he  had  charge  from  his  twenty- 
first  year,  receiving  a  share  of  the  crops. 
Upon  his  father's  death  he  purchased  the 
place  from  the  other  heirs  and  has  since 
made  his  home  thereon,  through  all  the 
years  keeping  his  land  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  making  many  improve- 
ments, so  that  the  property  has  ever  been 
valuable  and  attractive. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson 
was  blessed  with  seven  children,  of  whom 
five  are  yet  living:  Mary  E.,  the  deceased 
wife  of  Theodore  Haines;  Sarah  E.,  the 
wife  of  William  H.  Gordon,  of  Miorris 
township;  George  F.,  of  Oklahoma;  Nancy 
S.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  M.  F.  Cole,  a  practicing 
physician  of  Columbus;  Albert  M.,  de- 
ceased; Amanda  Anna,  the  wife  of  G.  M. 
Sipe,  an  attorney  of  Utica,  Ohio;  and  Eva 
B.,  who'  married  C.  K.  Conrad,  oi  Mount 
Vernon.  The  mother  died  in  1877,  and  Mr. 
Jackson  was  afterward  married,  in  Dela- 
ware, Ohio,  in  1878,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Con- 
verse, nee  Douglass.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1890,  and  February  16,  1892,  Mr.  Jack- 
son wedded  Miss  Anna  Moffit,  a  native  of 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of 
Rev.  A.  S.  Moffit,  of  the  Northern  Ohio 
Conference. 

Mr.  Jackson  has  been  very  successful  in 
his  farming  operations  and  is  now  the  owner 
of  three  farms,  aggregating  three  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres  of  land.  He  still 
gives  his  personal  supervision  to  the  culti- 


1 84 


A    CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


vation  of  the  home  farm,  and  the  rental 
from  his  place  and  the  harvests  garnered 
here  in  Morris  township  supply  him  with 
an  excellent  income  wh'ich  furnishes  him 
with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  though  he  has  never  been 
a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking,  he 
has  served  for  thirty  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  has  "won  golden  opinions  from 
all  sorts  of  people"  by  his  absolute  fairness 
and  impartiality.  He  has  served  for  several 
terms  as  trustee,  assessor,  clerk  and  con- 
stable. These  offices  have  been  conferred 
upon  him  from  time  to  time  without  his 
solicitation  by  his  fellow  citizens,  who  rec- 
ognize his  worth  and  ability.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  he  has  for  many  years  held  office. 
No  trust  reposed  in  him  has  ever  been  be- 
trayed in  the  slighest  degree.  He  has  ever 
been  found  true  and  faithful  and  his  life 
has  been  characterized  by  marked  fidelity 
to  duty.  In  the  long  years  of  his  residence 
here  he  has  become  widely  known  and  his 
friends  are  numbered  among  the  rich  and 
the  poor,'  the  old  and  the  young. 


HON.  COLUMBUS  DELANO. 

True  biography  has  a  nobler  purpose 
than  mere  fulsome  eulogy.  The  historic 
spirit  faithful  to  the  record,  the  discerning 
judgment  unmoved  by  prejudice  and  uncol- 
ored  by  enthusiasm,  are  as  essential  in  giv- 
ing the  life  of  the  individual  as  in  writing  the 
history  of  a  people.  Indeed,  the  ingenuous- 
ness of  the  former  picture  is  even  more  vital, 
because  the  individual  is  the  national  unit; 
and  if  the  unit  be  justly  estimated  the  com- 


plex organism  will  become  correspondingly 
intelligible.  The  world  to-day  is  what  the 
leading  men  of  the  last  generation  have 
made  it  From  the  past  has  come  the  legacy 
of  the  present.  Art,  science,  statesmanship 
and  government  are  accumulations.  They 
constitute  an  inheritance  upon  which  the 
present  generation  have  entered,  and  the 
advantages  secured  from  such)  a  vast  be- 
queathment  depend  entirely  upon  the  fidel- 
ity with  which  is  conducted  the  study  of 
the  lives  O'f  the  principal  actors  who  have 
transmitted  the  legacy.  This  is  especially 
true  of  those  whose  influence  has  passed 
beyond  the  confines  of  locality  and  per- 
meated the  national  character. 

To  such  a  careful  study  are  the  life,  char- 
acter and  services  of  Columbus  Delano  pre- 
eminently entitled,  not  only  by  the  student 
of  biography  but  by  every  citizen  who, 
guided  by  the  past,  would  in  the  present 
wisely  build  for  the  future.  To  have  at- 
tained to  the  extreme  fulness  of  years  and 
to  have  one's  ken  broadened  to  a  compre- 
hension of  all  that  has  been  accomplished 
within  the  flight  of  many  days,  is  of  itself 
sufficient  to  render  a  detailed  consideration 
of  such  a  life  in  a  work  of  this  order;  but  in 
the  case  at  hand  there  are  more  pertinent, 
more  distinguished  elements — those  of  use- 
fulness in  positions  of  high  public  trust  and 
confidence,  of  marked  intellectual  ability,  of 
exalted  honor,  of  broad  charity — which  lift 
high  in  reverence  the  subjective  personality 
of  this  veteran  statesman,  who  in  his  de- 
clining days  rested  secure  in  the  esteem  of 
those  among  whom  so  many  years  of  his 
life  had  been  passed,  his  beautiful  country- 
seat,  Lakehome,  near  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio, 
being  a  most  fit  abiding  place  for  one  who 
thus  sought  release  from  the  pressing  cares 


M 


'0^ 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


and  responsibilities  attending  a  long  and 
distinguished  career  as  an  eminent  lawyer, 
an  able  business  man  and  one  intimately 
identified  with  the  governmental  affairs  of 
both   state  and   nation. 

As  the  name  implies,  the  lineage  of  the 
Delano  family  traces  to  French  origin, 
through  the  original  American  representa- 
tive. Philip  Delano,  who  came  hither  from 
Holland  in  the  Fortune,  the  first  vessel  that 
landed  at  Plymouth  Rock  after  the  ]\Iay- 
flower,  and  thus  the  family  have  been  identi- 
fied with  the  annals  of  the  nation  from  the 
early  colonial  epoch,  contributing  true  and 
noble  men  and  women  to  each  successive  gen- 
eration through  the  long  intervening  years. 

Columbus  Delano  was  born  in  Shore- 
ham,  Vermont,  on  the  5th  of  June,  1809,  be- 
ing the  son  of  James  and  Lucinda  (Bate- 
man)  Delano.  His  father  died  when  he 
was  about  six  years  of  age,  and  thereupon 
he  was  committed  to  the  care  of  his  uncle. 
Luther  Bateman,  with  whom  he  removed 
to  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1817. 
It  will  thus  be  noted  that  Air.  Delano  was 
but  a  lad  of  eight  years  when  he  came  to 
the  locality  which  afterward  continued  to 
be  his  home  and  to  whose  development  and 
substantial  upbuilding  he  contributed  in  so 
large  a  measure.  Here  was  his  home  for 
more  than  a  half  a  century,  and  these  years 
w^ere  to  him  full  of  ceaseless  toil  and  en- 
deavor and  of  distinguished  honors.  Very 
early  in  life  Mr.  Delano  was  thrown  upon 
his  own  resources,  and  even  then  did  he  rise 
to  the  exigencies  of  the  situation  with  that 
same  self-reliance  and  self-respect  which 
have  been  characteristic  of  his  entire  career. 
He  made  good  use  of  such  educational  fa- 
cilities as  were  available,  and  his  keen  and 
alert  mentalitv  enabled  him  to  derive  more 


from  little  than  perhaps  the  average  person 
could  accomplish.  Before  attaining  his  ma- 
jority he  had  given  definition  to  the  course 
which  he  should  pursue  in  life,  having  de- 
termined to  adopt  the  profession  of  law, 
and  bent  every  energy  toward  preparing 
himself  for  the  practice  of  the  same.  In 
the  meantime  he  was  compelled  to  find  such 
incidental  occupation  as  would  enable  him 
to  meet  the  current  expenses,  so  that  his 
time  was  fully  filled  and  his  leisure  moments 
few  and  far  between.  In  1830  he  became 
a  student  in  the  law  office  of  Hosmer  Cur- 
tis, of  Mount  Vernon,  and  under  the  effec- 
tive preceptorage  implied  continued  until 
183 1,  when  he  realized  his  ambition  in  be- 
ing admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  state.  As 
has  been  said  of  him  by  another  biographer : 
"His  ambition,  talents,  excellent  habits  and 
exemplary  deportment  gave  assurance  of 
success  and  distinction  in  his  chosen  profes- 
sion, and  his  early  promise  as  a  lawyer  was 
fully  realized  in  later  years.  He  became 
eminent  as  an  advocate  and  criminal  lawyer, 
and  no  less  so  as  a  criminal  prosecutor,  for 
soon  after  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  he  be- 
came, by  popular  election,  the  prosecuting 
attorney  of  Knox  county.  The  prosecuting 
attorney  became  an  elective  officer  by  act 
of  the  legislature  in  1832,  and  Mr.  Delano, 
although  a  Whig,  or  rather  a  National  Re- 
publican, was  elected  to  that'  office  in  a 
county  then  decidedly  and  strongly  Demo- 
cratic, which  shows  that  he  was  then  very 
popular   with   both   parties." 

The  safety  of  the  republic  depends  not 
so  much  upon  the  methods  and  measures  as 
upon  the  manhood  from  whose  deep 
sources  all  that  is  precious  and  permanent 
in  life  must  at  least  proceed.  Throughout 
his  entire  career  Air.  Delano  showed  himself 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


to  be  of  stern  integrity  and  honesty  of  pur- 
pose, despising  all  unworthy  or  questiona- 
ble means  of  securing  success  in  any  under- 
taking or  for  any  purpose,  or  of  promoting 
his  own  advancement  in  any  direction, 
whether  political  or  otherwise.  The  tongue 
of  calumny  has  been  perforce  silenced  and 
the  malvolence  of  detraction  has  not  as- 
sumed to  assail  his  private  reputation.  It 
is  our  duty  to  mark  our  appreciation  of  such 
a  man — a  man  true  in  every  relation  of  life, 
faithful  to  every  trust,  a  statesman  diligent 
in  the  service  of  his  country  and  seeking 
only  the  public  good.  His  character  was 
of  the  sturdy  American  sort,  and  his  patriot- 
ism was  stalwart,  and  he  had  the  strongest 
attachment  to  our  free  institutions  and  was 
ever  willing  to  make  any  personal  sacrifice 
for  their  preservation. 

Continuing  the  tracing  of  his  public  ca- 
reer, we  find  that  after  a  three  years'  service 
as  prosecuting  attorney  of  Knox  county  he 
was  elected  as  his  own  successor,  but  that 
he  resigned  the  position  shortly  after  enter- 
ing his  second  term,  finding  that  his  increas- 
ing and  important  civil  practice  placed  ex- 
acting demands  on  his  undivided  attention. 
His  devotion  to  the  profession,  his  thor- 
oughness and  integrity  as  a  lawyer  and  his 
uniform  success  as  an  advocate  soon  placed 
him  in  a  foremost  position  as  a  member  of 
the  Ohio  bar,  then  justly  distinguished  for 
the  great  ability  of  its  personnel.  It  was 
but  to  be  expected  that  such  a  man  would 
be  uncompromising  in  his  opposition  to  hu- 
man slavery,  and  one  who  would  bring  to 
bear  the  full  force  of  his  strong  individu- 
ality when  this  institution  threatened  the 
integrity  of  the  nation.  In  the  troublous 
days  attending  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he 
was  a  stalwart  exponent  of  the  views  of  the 


Whig  party,  and,  while  seeking  no  official 
preferment,  his  influence  was  thrown  act- 
ivel}'  intO'  supporting  the  principles  and  poli- 
cies of  this  organization.  As  has  been  said 
in  this  connection,  "surrounded  by  a  cordon 
of  Democratic  constituencies  in  the  immedi- 
ate vicinity  of  his  congressional  district, 
there  seemed  but  little  hope  of  his  popular 
preferment,"  However,  in  the  year  1844, 
without  solicitation  on  his  part,  Mr.  Delano 
was  placed  in  nomination  as  the  Whig  can- 
didate for  congress  from  his  district.  The 
contest  was  vigorous,  and  the  personal 
strength  and  popularity  of  our  subject  were 
most  clearly  shown  in  the  results  of  the 
election,  since  he  secured  a  majority  of 
twelve  votes  over  the  Hon.  Caleb  J.  McNul- 
ty,  a  Deinocratic  politician  of  marked  pop- 
ularity and  extensive  resurces  and  power. 
The  emphatic  endorsement  thus  accorded 
Mr.  Delano  is  evinced  by  no  one  fact  more 
perfectly  than  in  that  at  the  same  election 
the  Democratic  candidate  for  governor  car- 
ried the  identical  district  by  six  hundred 
majority.  The  original  Whig  candidate 
from  the  district  comprising  the  counties  of 
Knox,  Licking  and  Franklin  was  Hon.  Sam- 
uel White,  of  Licking,  who  had  effected  the 
canvass  of  a  portion  of  the  district  when  a 
sudden  illness  finally  terminated  in  his 
death.  He  had  been  considered  the  ablest 
and  most  popular  Whig  in  the  district,  and 
he  and  his  opponent  were  well  matched  as 
orators  before  promiscuous  assemblies.  The 
death  of  Mr.  White  demanded  a  careful  de- 
liberation on  the  part  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Whig  forces  in  the  district,  since  the  emer- 
gency was  somewhat  difficult  to  meet.  ]\Ir. 
Delano  was  complimented  as  being  finally 
selected  as  the  most  eligible  man  in  the  dis- 
trict to  conduct  the  campaign  against  Col- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


[87 


onel  McNulty.  Each  of  the  opposing  candi- 
dates feh  that  he  had  a  foeman  worthy  of 
his  steel,  and  the  canvass  was  a  most  spir- 
ited one  and  the  issue  one  of  doubt,  as  is 
manifest  in  the  fact  that  the  election  was 
so  close  that  the  result  was  not  known  until 
returns  had  been  received  from  the  last 
township  in;  the  district,  when  the  vic- 
tory was  found  to  be  Mr.  Delano's,  who 
thus  took  his  seat  as  a  member  of  the 
twenty-ninth  congress.  In  this  congress 
he  served  with  signal  fidelity  to  the 
interests  of  his  state  and  his  constitu- 
ents, recognizing  the  important  charac- 
ter of  the  trust  conferred  and  assum- 
ing the  duties  involved  with  all  the  poten- 
tiality of  his  sterling  and  resourceful  nature. 
He  served  as  a  member  of  the  committee  on 
invalid  pensions,  and  his  speech  depreciat- 
ing the  Mexican  war  policy  was  a  most  vig- 
orous one  and  so  cogent  in  its  argument  as 
to  demand  the  consideration  of  all,  without 
regard  to  party  lines.  This  speech  was 
widely  circulated  and  did  much  to  establish 
his  reputation  throughout  the  nation.  In 
the  Whig  convention  of  1846  Mr.  Delano 
was  a  candidate  for  governor  of  Ohio,  but 
failed  of  nomination  by  two  votes,  his  suc- 
cessful! competitor  for  this  position  being 
Seabury  Ford. 

In  1850  JMr.  Delano  retired  from  ac- 
ti\-e  practice  of  the  legal  profession,  in 
which  he  had  attained  to  so  signal  priority, 
and  thereupon  removed  to  the  city  of  New 
York,  where  he  became  a  member  of  the 
banking  firm  of  Delano,  Dunlevy  &  Com- 
pany, and  where  he  was  concerned  in  the 
conducting  of  a  very  successful  business  for 
a  term  of  five  years,  after  which  he  returned 
to  his  old  and  cherished  home  at  Mount  Ver- 
non, and  here  turned  his  attention  to  exten- 


sive agricultural  operations  a. id;  to  other 
business  interests  of  important  character. 

The  interest  which  Mr.  Delano  had 
shown  in  matters  political  hid  shown  no 
signs  of  waning,  and  he  was  rery  naturally 
soon  brought  into  prominence.  His  politi- 
cal adherency  had  continued  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  the  normal  successor  of  the 
Whig  organization,  and  in  i860  he  was  a 
delegate  to  the  national  convention,  in  Chi- 
cago, which  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln 
for  the  presidency ;  and  he  rendered  valiant 
service  in  behalf  of  the  martyred  president, 
seconding  his  nomination  in  a  speech  alive 
with  pajtriotic  utterances  and  earnest  en- 
dorsement of  "the  man  who  could  split  rails 
and  maul  Democrats."  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  ensuing  campaign.  In  1861,  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  a 
recognition  of  Mr.  Delano's  stalwart  patriot- 
ism and  marked  executive  ability  was  ac- 
corded in  his  appointment  as  commissary 
general  of  Ohio,  in  which  office  he  served 
with  signal  efficiency  until  the  time  when  the 
general  government  assumed  the  subsistence 
of  the  state  troops.  In  the  succeeding  year 
he  became  a  candidate  in  convention  for 
the  United  States  Senate,  and  on  one  ballot 
lacked  but  two  votes  of  the  nomination.  In 
1863  official  preferment  again  came  to  Mr. 
Delano  in  his  election  to  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives in  the  Ohio  legislature,  in  which 
body  he  became  prominent  through  his  well 
directed  efforts  in  shaping  the  important 
legislation  of  the  state  during  the  last  two 
years  of  the  war,  having  been  chairman  of 
the  committee  which  determined  upon  the 
question  relative  to  the  voting  of  the  sol- 
diers in  the  field. 

Mr.  Delano  was  chairman  of  the  Ohio 
delegation  in  the  national  Republican  con- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


vention  held  at  Baltimore  in  1864,  and  here 
again  it  was  his  to  render  a  zealous  support 
to  President  Lincoln,  for  whose  nomination 
he  labored  earnestly.  Within  the  same  year 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  thirty-ninth 
congress,  in  which  he  served  as  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  claims.  He  was  nomin- 
ated as  his  own  successor  in  the  fortieth 
congress,  but  refused  to  become  again\  a 
candidate  from  his  district.  Of  his  work 
in  congress  we  can  not  do  better  than  to  in- 
corporate a  summing  up  which  has  hitherto 
been  made.  "As  a  legislator  he  was  op- 
posed to  free  trade,  and  advocated  a  pro 
tective  tariff.  He  was  strongly  opposed  to 
the  extravagant  claims  of  railroad  compan- 
ies for  land  grants  and  government  subsi- 
dies. His  views  were  regarded  as  most  im- 
portant on  questions  of  tariff,  of  taxes  and 
of  public  debt.  To  his  speech  of  July  24, 
1866,  was  given  the  credit  of  carrying  the 
tariff  bill  of  that  session  against  what  has 
been  considered  ^the  sense  of  the  house." 

When  President  Grant  became  president 
of  the  United  States-  he  conferred  upon  our 
honored  subject  the  appointment  as  com- 
missioner of  internal  revenue,  and  in  his 
administration  O'f  the  affairs  of  this  offfce 
he  showed  the  same  fidelity  and  the  same 
disregard  for  fear  or  favor  as  derogating 
against  such  fidelity  that  had  ever  been  typ- 
ical of  his  services  in  positions  of  public 
trust.  It  demanded  fortitude  and  inflexi- 
bility of  principle  to  bring  about  the  needed 
reforms  in  this  department  of  public  service, 
and  it  will  stand  tO'  the  perpetual  credit  of 
Mr.  Delano  that  he  effected  a  thorongh  re- 
organization of  the  department  and  cor- 
rected many  abuses  which  had  been  held  as 
privileges  by  certain  powerful  organizations 
which  preyed  upon  the  nation.     In  the  year 


1870  there  came  to>  Mr.  Delano  a  fit- 
ting crown  to  his  zealous  endeavors  in 
the  service  of  his  country,  since  in  that 
year  he  became  a  member  of  the  cabi- 
net of  President  Grant,  succeeding  Gov- 
ernor J.  D.  Cox  as  secretary  of  the 
interior.  This  conspicuous  and  import- 
ant office  he  filled  with  signal  ability  for 
a  termi  of  five  years,  when  he  tendered  his 
resignation  in  order  to  devote  his  attention 
to  private  pursuits,  doubtless  feeling  that  he 
was  entitled  to>  respite  from  public  service 
after  the  lapse  of  so  many  years.  This  res- 
ignation was  accepted  by  the  president  with 
expressions  of  satisfaction  with  the  manner 
in  which  Mr.  Delano  had  performed  the 
duties  devolving  upon  him  in  the  incum- 
bency, and  with  manifestations  of  regret  in 
view  of  his  desire  to  retire  from  public  life. 
After  his  retirement  from  the  dignified 
cabinet  office  of  secretary  of  the  interior, 
Mr.  Delano  returned  to  the  place  which  for 
more  than  seventy  years  he  had  delighted  to 
call  his  home.  His  beautiful  country  seat, 
Lakehome,  situated  about  one  mile  south 
of  Mount  Vernon,  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  entire  state,  and  tO'  its  cultivation  and 
improvement  he  devoted  his  attention  with 
that  energy  which  was  so  characteristic  of 
the  man.  A  more  ideal  home  than  this  can 
scarcely  be  imagined,  and  thei  stately  de- 
mesne, with  its  fifteen  acres  of  lawn,  with 
its  noble  trees,  winding  drives  and  opulence 
of  floral  tributes,  can  not  fail  to  appeal  to 
the  sentiment  of  any  beholder,  while  the 
utilitarian  aspect  is  equally  insistent  in  com- 
manding attention,  the  great  area  of  five 
hundred  acres  of  well  tilled  fields  or  far- 
stretching  meadows  adding  to  the  pastoral 
charms  of  Lakehome,  while  the  improve- 
ments and  modern  accessories  are  of  such 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


189 


extent  and  character  as  to  make  the  place 
a  veritable  model.  Mr.  Delano  did  much 
to  advance  the  agricultural  and  stock  rais- 
ing interests  of  the  locality,  and  in  his  ven- 
erable age  he  did  not  abate  his  active  con- 
cern. Another  has  written  as  follows 
touching  the  declining  years  of  the  hon- 
ored subject  of  this  memoir:  "There,  amid 
the  elegance,  the  quiet,  the  contentment  of 
a  well  ordered  home,  among  cherished 
friends  of  earlier  and  later  times,  he  en- 
joyed the  philosophic  composure,  the  sage- 
like dignity,  the  leisure,  the  retirement  be- 
coming one  whose  years  of  activity,  of  suc- 
cess, of  honor  have  so  largely  outnumbered 
those  of  mankind  generall}',  whose  ways  of 
life  ha\-e  been  such  that  his  retrospections 
would  be  pleasurable,  be  recalled  with  de- 
light and  cherished  with  complacency."  So 
noble  and  well  spent  a  life  manifestly  mer- 
its immunity  from  all  that  is  implied  in 
the  beautiful  litany  words,  "In  any  way 
affected  the  mind,  body  or  estate,"  and  Co- 
lumbus Delano,  the  veteran  statesman,  the 
patriot,  the  noble  citizen,  commanded  the 
respect  and  veneration  of  all  who  had  cog- 
nizance of  his  fruitful  and  worthy  life. 

In  all  that  concerned  the  well  being  and 
the  advancement  of  his  fellow  men  Mr.  De- 
lano maintained  an  abiding  interest,  and  this 
was  an  interest  not  only  of  words  but  of 
deeds.  As  success  attended  his  efforts  he 
had  recognition  of  the  higher  duties  which 
were  imposed  upon  him  in  its  attaining  and 
the  practical  philanthropy  which  he  showed 
stands  in  evidence  of  the  sympathetic  na- 
ture, the  charity  of  judgment  and  the  earn- 
est devotion  of  the  man.  Temperate  and  the 
friend  of  temperance  in  all  things,  the  sup- 
porter of  education  and  good  morals,  the 
schools,  colleges  and  churches  always  found 


in  him  an  advocate.  A  zealous  churchman, 
he  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  wardens 
of  St.  Paul's  Protestant  Episcopal  church 
in  Mount  Vernon,  being  such  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  and  to  his  beneficence  the  pres- 
ent prosperity  of  the  parish  is  in  a  large 
measure  due.  He  always  maintained  a 
lively  interest  in  the  well-known  church  in- 
stitution, Kenyon  College,  at  Gambler, 
Ohio,  and  was  for  many  years  a  member  of 
its  board  of  trustees.  To  this  school  he  gave 
a  munificent  bequest  in  a  fund  for  the  en- 
dowment of  the  grammar  department,  and 
the  institution  conferred  upon  him'  the  hon- 
ary  degree  of  doctor  of  laws.  He  also  pro- 
vided for  the  erection  of  Delano  Hall  at 
this  school. 

After  retiring  from  public  life  Mr.  De- 
lano did  not  abate  his  interest  in  the  issues 
and  affairs  of  the  day,  but  kept  closely  in 
touch  with  all  questions  touching  the  pros- 
perity of  the  nation.  His  advice  was  sought 
in  regard  tO'  the  provisions  of  the  McKinley 
tariff  bill,  and  incidentally  he  devoted  much 
time  and  labor  to  the  interest  of  protection, 
especially  on  wool,  and  until  within  a  few 
years  past  was  president  of  the  National 
Wool  Growers'  Association. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1834,  was  solemn- 
ized the  marriage  of  Columbus  Delano  and 
Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  M.  Martin  and 
Clara  (Sherman)  Leavenworth,  of  Mount 
Vernon,  Ohio.  Of  their  children  one  is  liv- 
ing, Elizabeth,  who  was  born  in  1839,  and 
who  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  John  G.  Ames,  of 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia. 

On  Friday  morning,  October  23,  1896, 
amid  the  scenes  hallowed  by  long  and  ten- 
der associations,  came  the  final  summons 
to  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  for,  full  of  years 
and  well  earned  honors,  Columbus  Delano 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


entered  into  that  eternal  rest  to  which  he 
had  looked  in  triumphant  faith.  The  silver 
cord  of  life  was  loosed  suddenly  and  at  a 
time  when  he  was  giving-  directions  in  re- 
gard to  his  affairs  and  preparing  for  the  du- 
ties of  the  day.  The  life  infinite  took  on  a 
new  glory  when  thus  was  set  the  seal  upon 
the  mortal  lips.  The  cause  of  death  was 
heart  failure,  superinduced  by  advanced  age. 
Columbus  Delano  lived,  labored  and  died 
like  the  truly  great  man  that  he  was,  and 
the  solemn  strains  of  the  Nunc  Dimittis  was 
never  intoned  as  a  requiem  to  a  more  faith- 
ful and  noble  servant.  His  work  was  done, 
and  the  merging  of  the  mortal  into  immor- 
tality was  but  the  consistent  end — thus  bear- 
ing its  measure  of  reconciliation  and  conso- 
lation to  those  most  deeply  bereaved. 


ALBERT  G.   BLACK. 

Albert  G.  Black,  who  wore  the  blue  in 
the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  is  now 
successfully  engaged  in  farming  on  section 
17,  Jefiferson  township.  His  entire  life  has 
been  passed  in  Knox  county,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Union  township,  October 
16,  1840.  He  is  the  seventh  child  and 
fourth  son  of  Andrew  and  Sarah  (Huff) 
Black,  under  whose  roof  his  boyhood  days 
were  happily  passed.  He  acquired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood and  was  trained  in  the  work  of 
the  fields  and  meadows,  assisting  in  the  la- 
bors of  the  home  farm  until  1862,  when  he 
could  no  longer  content  himself  with  farm 
work  and  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Twen- 
tieth Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which 
he  remained  for  three  years  as  a  private. 
He  took  part  in  a  number  of  very  important 


engagements,  including  the  battles  of  Fort 
Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  luka  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  being  present  when  the 
Confederates  surrendered  that  city.  He 
was  never  wounded  or  taken  prisoner  and 
through  his  three  years'  service  was  only  off 
duty  for  one  week.  His  was  indeed  a  cred- 
itable military  record,  marked  by  unfalter- 
ing fidelity  to  the  cause  he  espoused. 

When  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Black  re- 
turned to  his  home  and  engaged  in  general 
farming  in  Union  township.  He  has  also 
taught  school  in  the  same  township,  has  op- 
erated a  threshing  machine  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  cider,  but  all  these  have 
been  supplemental  tO'  his  principal  work  of 
tilling  the  soil.  In  1900  he  took  up  his 
abode  on  his  present  farm  in  Jefferson 
township,  where  he  owns  and  operates 
eighty  acres  of  rich  land,  and  the  thrifty  ap- 
pearance of  the  place  indicates  tO'  the  passer- 
by his  cai'eful  supervision. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  1872,  Mr. 
Black  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  J. 
Slaight,  a  native  of  Knox  county,  born  in 
Union  township,  and  a.  daug"hter  of  Henry 
G.  and  Lovina  (Statlar)  Slaight,  who  were 
early  settlers  of  Knox  county,  emigrating 
from  New  York  to  the  Buckeye  state. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Black  was  the  second  in  order 
of  birtli.  By  her  marriage  she  has  become 
the  mother  of  five  children :  Nellie  M.,  the 
wife  of  Charles  Snow,  of  Danville,  by 
whom  she  has  one  son,  Harold  G. ;  Henry 
E.,  Ida  C,  H.  ^^•endall  P.  and  Willard  B., 
all  at  home  excepting  H.  Wendall  P.,  who 
is  in  California.  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
Black  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and 
warmly  advocates  the  principles  of  the 
party,  although  he  has  never  sought  or  de- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


191 


sired  public  office.  His  attention  has  mainly 
been  given  tO'  his  business  affairs,  and  his 
enterprise  and  unflagging  industry  have 
made  him  the  owner  of  a  desirable  prop- 
ertv. 


NICHOLAS  St.  CLAIR  TOLAXD,  M.  D. 

It  is  not  probable  that  many  physicians 
in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  more  fully  realize 
the  popular  conception  of  the  duties  of  the 
family  doctor  than  Nicholas  St.  Clair  To- 
land,  of  Martinsburg,  Clay  township,  who 
has  ministered  to  the  medical  and  surgical 
necessities  of  the  people  of  that  vicinity 
since  1S67. 

Doctor  Toland  was  born  in  Carroll 
county,  Ohio,  December  8,  1832.  Benja- 
min F.  Toland,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  and  was  of  Irish  descent.  He 
married  Martha  Denbow,  also  a  native  of 
Maryland,  but  of  English  extraction,  and 
soon  afterward  removed  to  Ohio.  Doctor 
Toland,  the  youngest  of  his  parents'  chil- 
dren, was  reared  in  his  native  county  and 
received  his  primary  education  in  the  dis- 
trict school  near  his  home,  later  attending 
a  special  school  at  Oldtown,  Ohio.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  he  went  to  Tuscarawas 
county,  Ohio,  and  three  years  later  he  be- 
gan teaching  school,  and  thus  he  obtained 
means  with  which  tO'  pay  for  his  medical 
education.  He  began  his  professional  stud- 
ies in  the  fall  of  1856  at  Ncav  Philadelphia, 
Ohio,  and  in  due  course  of  events  attended 
lectures  at  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Wooster.  He  began  active 
practice  at  Bakerville,  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  in  the  spring  of  1858  and  remained 
there  with  considerable  success  until  the  fall 


of  1864,  when  he  removed  to  Gnadenhut- 
ten,  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
cruited a  company  which  became  known  as 
Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety- 
fourth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
in  which  he  did  creditable  service  as  first 
lieutenant  until  the  close  of  the  war,  having 
been  mustered  out  with  that  rank.  In  1867 
he  resumed  his  professional  work  at  Mar- 
tinsburg, KnO'x  county,  where  he  has  prac- 
ticed continuously  to  the  present  time.  He 
is  the  oldest  practicing  physician  in  his 
vicinity  and  perhaps  the  oldest  in  the  county 
in  point  of  unbroken  service. 

Doctor  Toland  in  ,1858  married  Miss 
Rosana  Simmons,  now  deceased,  who'  bore 
him  eight  children,  but  only  one  is  now  liv- 
ing— Efiie  J.,  the  wife  of  J.  Mitchell,  of 
Falls  City,  Nebraska.  Doctor  Toland's 
present  wife  was  Miss  Martha  Mozelle 
Ewart.  The  Doctor  keeps  alive  recollec- 
tions of  his  experiences  of  war  by  member- 
ship with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
he  having  filled  all  the  chairs  in  Updyke 
Post,  No.  486,  of  Martinsburg,  which  he 
has  served  as  post  surgeon  since  its  organi- 
zation. He  is  a  member  of  the  Disciples' 
church,  of  Martinsburg,  and  is  well  known 
throughout  Knox  county  as  a  prominent 
and  influential  Republican. 


GEORGE  T.  MURPHY. 

George  T.  Murphy,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  insurance  business  in  Batemantown,  is 
an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  has 
been  a  prominent  factor  in  public  affairs, 
holding  several  of-ficial  positions,  in  which 
he  manifested  the  same  loyalty  to  duty  and 


■192 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


the  right  that  characterized  his  army  Ufe 
when  he  followed  the  starry  banner  of  the 
nation  upon  southern  battlefields.  He  lis 
numbered  among  Knox  county's  native 
sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Middle- 
bury  township,  April  7,  1844.  His  grand- 
father, Abner  Murphy,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  at  a  very  early  epoch  in  the 
development  of  central  Ohio  located  in  Mid- 
dlebury  township,  his  home  being  in  the 
midst  of  the  vernal  forest.  There  he  cleared 
a  tract  of  land,  developed  a  good  farm  and 
reared  his  family  of  Iten  children,  all  of 
w^hom  reached  adult  age.  Only  one,  how- 
ever, is  now  living,  Enos,  of  Middlebury 
township.  The  fifth  of  the  family  was 
Bazil  ]vlurphy.  the  father  of  our  subject. 
He  was  born  in  the  Keystone  state  in  18 12 
and  with  his  parents  came  to  Knox  county 
in  his  boyhood.  He  was  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  Middlebury  township  and  located  on 
a  farm  within  its  borders,  devoting  his  en- 
tire life  to  the  raising  of  the  cereals  best 
adapted  to  this  climate.  His  political  views 
in  early  life  were  in  accord  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Whig  party,  and  when  new 
issues  arose  before  the  people  he  became  a 
Republican.  He  was  a  helpful  and  zealous 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  held  the  offices  of  steward  and  class- 
leader.  The  greater  part  of  his  life  was 
passed  in  Middlebury  township,  and  he  died 
in  1896,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 
In  early  manhood  he  had  married  Abigal 
Johnson,  a  native  of  Middlebury  township 
and  a  daughter  of  James  Johnson,  a  pioneer 
settler  here.  Among  his  children  Mrs. 
Murphy  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth, 
and  her  childhood  days  were  passed  in  her 
native  township.  She  is  still  living  and  is 
now  in  her  eighty-seventh  year. 


L'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  ]\Iurphy  were  born 
four  sons  and  four  daughters :  Samantha, 
the  wife  of  William  Burkholder;  Albert  and 
Sarah,  both  deceased ;  Elmer,  deceased ;  Lu- 
cretia,  the  widow  of  Samuel  Poorman,  of 
jMiddlebury  township;  James  F.,  of  Mid- 
dlebury township;  George,  of  this  review; 
and  Ella,  the  widow  of  Frank  Thompson, 
of  Middlebury  township. 

George  T.  Murphy  began  his  education 
in  the  district  schools  and  later  continued 
his  education  in  Fredericktown.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen,  his  patriotic  spirit  thor- 
oughly aroused,  he  offered  his  services  to 
the  government,  and  in  1862  donned  the 
blue  uniform  as  a  member  of  Company  A, 
Twentieth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  serv- 
ing for  three  years.  He  participated  in  many 
important  engagements,  including  the 
battles  of  Raymond,  \'icksburg.  Champion 
Hill  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1863-4  he  was  with  his  command  at 
Meridian  and  then  returned  to  Vicksburg, 
and  in  [March,  1864.  went  home  on  a  fur- 
lough. On  the  expiration  of  his  leave  of 
absence  he  joined  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign 
and  was  with  Sherman  on  the"  celebrated 
mafch  to  the  sea,  whioh  proved  thajt 
the  Confederate  strength  was  almost  ex- 
pended. After  the  capture  of  Savannah 
he  participated  in  the  Carolina  campaign, 
proceeded  to  Washington,  and  when  the 
victorious  hosts  were  marshalled  in  Wash- 
ington, he,  too,  participated  in  the  grand 
review,  the  most  celebrated  military  page- 
ant ever  seen  on  the  western  hemisphere. 
On  the  15th  of  June,  1865,  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged  in  Columbus,  and  with  a 
most  creditable  military  record  returned  to 
his  home. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


t93 


Mr.  Murphy  then  resumed  his  education 
and  for  two  years  was  a  student  in  Fred- 
ericktown,  after  which  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing for  a  year.  He  haS'  been  honored  with 
pubhc  office,  being  appointed  by  President 
Harrison  storekeeper  and  ganger  for  what 
is  known  as  the  Lost  Run  distillery,  serving 
in  that  capacity  for  four  years.  In  1896  he 
was  elected  county  commissioner  and  filled 
that  position  for  a  similar  period.  He  is 
now  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  in 
Batemantown,  in  company  with  C.  C.  Jack- 
son, ex-county  recorder  of  Mount  Vernon, 
and  represents  a  number  of  the  old  reliable 
companies. 

In  1868  Mi'r.  Murphy  was  married  to 
Miss  Alice  Van  Buskirk.  and  unto  them 
have  been  born  two  children :  Lillie,  the 
wife  of  William  Alguire;  and  Inez,  the  wife 
of  Otho  McCarroo.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  Mr.  Murphy  wedded  Sarah 
Lynde,  a  native  of  Middlebury  township  and 
a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Fowler) 
Lynde,  who  had  seven  children,  Mrs.  Mur- 
phy being  the  third.  Her  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Vermont,  her  mother  of  Connecti- 
cut. Mr.  Murphy  is  identified  with  a  num- 
ber of  fraternal  orders,  belonging  to  Fred- 
ericktown  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  to  Jacob 
Young  Post,  No.  192,  G.  A.  R..  of  Fred- 
ericktown.  In  politics  he  has  always  been 
a  stanch,  Republican  and  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  success  of  his  party  and  in  all 
measures  pertaining  to  the  public  good. 


COL.  ISAAC  P.  LARIMORE. 

Colonel  Isaac  P.  Larimore  is  one  of  the 
old  settlers  of  Hilliar  township,  where  for 
many  years  he  has  engaged  in  farming.    He 


was  born  in  Hampshire  county,  Virginia, 
now  \\'est  Virginia,  Alarch  10,  1821,  and  is 
of  Irish  lineage,  for  his  grandfather, 
James  Larimore,  was  a  native  of  the  Emer- 
ald Isle  and  when  a  young  man  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  America,  settling  in  Hampshire 
county,  where  he  became  acquainted 
with  and  married  Susan  Brown,  a  Ger- 
man lady.  Among  their  children  was  James 
Larimore,  Jr.,  also  a  native  of  Hampshire 
county,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life.  He 
was  educated  in  its  schools,  reared  within 
its  border,  pursued  his  business  career 
there,  and  when  death  claimed  him  he  was 
still  a  resident  of  the  county,  being  then 
about  seventy  years  of  age.  In  his  political 
affiliations  he  was  an  old-line  Whig,  and  in 
religious  faith  was  a  Presbyterian.  At  all 
times  he  was  firm  in  support  of  his  con- 
victions, and  Wis  many  excellent  character- 
istics commended  him  to  the  respect  and 
trust  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 
He  married  Naomi  Wolverton,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  who  became  a  resident  of 
Hampshire  county.  West  Virginia,  when 
only  three  years  old,  there  spending  her  re- 
maining days.  Her  father  was  Joe  Wolver- 
ton, of  New  Jersey.  Unto  the  parents  of 
our  subject  were  born  fourteen  children,"  of 
whom  he  was  the  second  son  and  seventh 
child.  Of  the  family  of  seven  sons  and 
seven  daughters  but  five  daughters  and  two 
sons  reached  mature  years. 

Isaac  P.  Larimore  spent  the  first  twenty- 
three  years  of  his  life  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity  and  then  determined  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  the  west.  With  all  his  earthly  pos- 
sessions in  a  small  parcel,  he  traveled  on 
horseback  through  forests  and  o\-er  moun- 
tains, and  on  the  night  of  November  17, 
1844,  slept  for  the  first  time  in  Knox  county. 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


where  he  was  destined  tO'  spend  so  many 
years,  his  residence  here  covering  ahiiost  six 
decades. 

For  a  year  Mr.  Larimore  worked  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand  and  then  married 
Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Black)  Mantonya.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Loudoun  county,.  Virginia,  while  her 
mother's  birth  occurred  in  what  '  is  now 
Hampshire  county.  West  Virginia.  Mrs. 
Larimore,  their  only  child,  was  born  in 
Licking  county,  Ohio,  May  i,  1829,  but 
from  the  age  of  five  years  was  reared  in 
Knox  county  amid  primitive  surroundings 
and  pioneer  conditions.  She  attended  a  log 
school  house  and  was  trained  in  all  the  work 
of  the  household,  so  that  she  was  vvcll  quali- 
fied to  take  charge  of  a  home  of  her  own. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larimore  began  their  domes- 
tic life  upon  a  farm  in  Milford  township, 
where  they  lived  from  1844  until  1875, 
when  they  came  to  their  present  home  in 
Hilliar  township.  Here  Mr.  Larimore 
owns  two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  rich 
land,  arable  and  productive.  Through  a 
long  period  he  engaged  in  its  cultivation, 
but  he  is  now  living  retired,  the  income 
from  his  farm,  together  with  the  comfort- 
able competence  he  acquired  in  former 
years,  being  amply  sufficient  to  supply  him 
with  all  the  necessities  and  many  of  the  lux- 
uries of  life. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larimore  were  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living: 
Joseph;  Harriet,  the  wife  Oif  Elmer  Hol- 
lister;  James;  William;  and  Rose,  who 
married  Frank  Sutton.  Among  those  who 
have  passed  away  three  died  in  infancy; 
Sarah  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years ;  Vir- 
ginia departed  this  life  at  the  age  of  twenty- 


one;  and  Emma  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven.  Mr.  Larimore  and  his  family  attend 
the  Methodist  church,  of  which  he  has  been 
a  member  for  fifty  years  and  a  local  min- 
ister nearly  all  that  time.  He  has  also  been 
a  life-long  Democrat  in  his  political  affili- 
ations and  has  held  a  number  of  local  offices. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  agricultural  board 
of  the  county  for  ten  years,  and  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  advancing  its  interests  and  its 
influence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Hart- 
ford Central  Agricultural  Society  for  thir- 
ty-fi-i-e  years,  wrote  its  constitution  and  was 
its  president  and  vice-president  through  a 
long  period,  while  for  nearly  twenty  years 
he  served  as  its  marshal.  He  has  done  every- 
thing in  his  power  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
the  farmer  and  to  introduce  improved  meth- 
ods which  will  lead  to  better  results.  He 
formerly  took  an  active  interest  in  military 
affairs,  his  popularity  as  the  fair  marshal 
causing  him  to  be  selected  as  colonel  in  the 
Ohio  State  Militia,  his  commission  being 
signed  by  the  old  war  governor  Todd. 
Progress  and  advancement  have  ever  been 
watchwords  with  him,  and  in  all  lines  of  life 
with  which  he  has  been  connected  he  has 
sought  improvement  both  for  himself  and 
others.  No  man  in  the  community  has  done 
more  to  promote  agricultural  interests,  and 
his  fellow  townsmen  recognize  his  worth 
and.  honor  him  for  what  he  has  accom- 
plished. 


HARMON  J.   DEBOLT. 

i 
Harmon  J.  Debolt  is  one  of  the  exten- 
sive land  owners  of  Knox  county,  his  pos- 
sessions   aggregating    three    hundred    and 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


1 95 


ninety-six  acres,  constituting  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  this  portion  of  the  state.  It 
is  supplied  with  all  modern  conveniences 
and  the  well-tilled  fields  annually  return  a 
golden  tribute  for  the  care  and  labor  be- 
stowed upon  them  by  our  subject  who  is  ac- 
counted a  most  progressive  and  enterpris- 
ing farmer. 

It  was  upon  this  farm  in  Hilliar  town- 
ship that  Mr.  Debolt  w'as  born  on  the  9th 
of  April,  1857,  and  since  pioneer  times  in 
this  portion  of  Ohio  the  family  history  has 
been  interwoven  with  the  annals  of  Knox 
county,  for  Absolom  Debolt,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  purchased  this  farm 
from  the  government.  He  performed  the 
arduous  task  of  reclaiming  the  wild  land  for 
purposes  of  civilization  and  succeeded  in 
making  it  a  very  productive  and  desirable 
tract.  William  T.  Debolt,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  NeAvark,  Licking  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  was  a  youth  of  nine  years 
when  he  came  to  Knox  county.  Here  he 
assisted  in  the  work  of  clearing  the  land 
and  cultivating  the  fields,  and  throughout 
his  remaining  days  he  resided  upon  the  old 
family  homestead  and  in  Centerburg,  suc- 
cessfully carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits 
after  he  had  attained  to  man's  estate.  He 
married  Sarah  Hollister,  a  native  of  Knox 
county,  who  died  when  about  fifty-six  years 
of  age.  Their  only  daughter,  Mary  E.,  is 
now  the  wife  of  W.  B.  Pelter,  of  Center- 
burg. 

Harmon  J.  Debolt  pursued  his  education 
in  the  district  schools,  and  in  the  fields  he 
assisted  in  planting  crops  and  caring  for 
them  through  the  months  of  summer,  while 
in  the  autumn  he  aided  in  garnering  the 
harvests.  He  has  never  left  the  old  home- 
stead, which  is  now  his  property,  and  to-day 


he  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  this  part  of 
the  state,  supplied  Avith  all  modern  access- 
ories and  conveniences.  In  connection  with 
the  raising  of  the  cereals  best  adapted  to  this 
climate  he  also  engaged  in  raising  and  feed- 
ing stock,  and  this  branch  of  his  business 
adds  materially  to  his  income. 

In  1878  w^as  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Debolt  and  Miss  Emma  Dally,  a 
daughter  of  Ephraim  Dally.  They  now 
have  four  children — Clarence  L.,  William, 
Ephraim  and  Lelia,  all  of  whom  are  yet  un- 
der the  parental  roof.  The  friends  of  the 
family  in  this  community  are  many  and  the 
hospitality  of  the  best  homes  is  extended  to 
them.  Mr.  Debolt  votes  with  the  Democ- 
racy, but  while  he  warmly  endorses  its  prin- 
ciples he  has  never  been  a  politician  in  tire 
sense  of  office  seeking.  He  holds  member- 
ship with  Centerburg  Lodge,  No.  228,  K. 
P.,  and  not  only  enjoys  the  regard  of  his 
brethren  of  that  fraternity  but  of  the  ma- 
jority of  those  with  whom  business  or  so- 
cial relations  have  brought  him  in  contact. 


JOHN   RANDOLPH  LONG. 

At  the  time  when  the  nation  was  in- 
volved in  Civil  war  John  R.  Long  joined  the 
northern  army  and  proved  himself  a  loyal 
and  devoted  soldier.  He  is  numbered 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Knox  county 
and  is  a  representative  citizen  of  Hilliar 
township.  His  birth  occurred  in  Milford 
township,  KnO'X  county,  March  29,  1844, 
and  he  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  this  state.  His  grandfather, 
Solomon  Long,  came  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Ohio,  and  it  was  in  the  Keystone  state  that 
Rollins  Long,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 


196 


A    CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


born.  He  was  only  about  two  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  emigrated  westward,  tak- 
ing tip  their  abode  near  Newark.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Bennington  town- 
ship. Licking  county,  and  after  arriving  at 
years  of  maturity  was  married  in  Knox 
county  to  Miss  EUzabeth  Conaway,  a  native 
of  this  county,  whither  her  parents  came 
from  Maryland,  being  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  here.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long  be- 
gan their  domestic  life  in  Milford  township 
and  throughout  his  business  career  he  car- 
ried on  farming.  His  death  occurred  in 
Hilliar  township  in  his  se\'enty-ninth  year, 
and  his  wife  lived  to  be  about  sixty  years  of 
age.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
all  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity. 

The  second  child  was  the  subject  of  this 
review,  and  under  the  parental  roof  he  spent 
his  youthful  days.  Although  but  a  boy 
when  the  Civil  war  was  in  progress,  be  r&. 
sponded  to  his  country's  call  in  1864  for  aid 
and  enlisted  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-second  Ohio  Infantry,  with 
which  he  served  for  four  months.  Rettini- 
ing  to  his  home,  he  resumed  farm  work,  and 
in  1869  he  made  preparations  for  a  home  of 
his  own  by  his  marriage  to  Rachel  E. 
Wenger,  who  was  born  in  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Abbey 
(Harrison)  Wenger.  She  spent  her  girl- 
hood days  in  her  native  county  and  there  ob- 
tained a  common-school  education.  Two 
children  have  been  born  of  this  union: 
Rensselaer,  who  attended  the  Kaiyon  Col- 
lege and  graduated  at  the  Union  Christian 
College  at  Merom,  Indiana,  in  1896,  is  a 
minister  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
preached  three  years  in  Michigan  and  is 
now  serving  the  church  at  Utica  and  Sparta, 
Ohio.    He  married  Maud  Hoover,  of  Mich- 


igan, and  they  have  a  little  daughter.  Mar- 
guerite. Carrie  E.  is  the  wife  of  Bliss  AVil- 
lis,  of  Centerburg,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Elmo  Lee. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long  reside  in  Hilliar 
township,  which  has  been  their  place  of 
abode  since  1880.  He  has  one  hundred  and 
one  acres  of  excellent  land,  and  as  the  soil 
usually  returns  rich  han^ests  he  is  annually 
adding  to  his  jncome  and  is  accounted  one 
of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  the  commun- 
ity. In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Populist. 
Religiously  he  is  identified  with  the  Chris- 
tian church  at  Centerburg.  Firm  in  his  con- 
victions, he  earnestly  espouses  the  cause 
which  he  believes  to  be  right  and  just,  and 
at  all  times  merits  the  high  regard  in  which 
he  is  uniformly  held. 


\V.  O.  PHILLIPS,  AI.  D. 

In  tracing  the  career  of  the  successful 
physician  it  is  usually  found  that  he  pos- 
sesses certain  marked  characteristics  in  ad- 
dition to  having  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
the  healing  art  and  good  financial  ability. 
There  must  be  a  ready  sympathy  and  a 
power  of  entering  into  the  feelings  of  others, 
united  to  that  self-poise  and  conscious 
strength  which  naturally  emanates  from  a 
strong,  self-reliant  nature.  Dr.  Phillips  is 
fortunate  in  being  gifted  with  many  of  the 
qualities  of  the  successful  physician,  and  his 
cheer}',  helpful  optimism  is  a  source  of  hope 
and  comfort  in  many  a  home  shadowed  by 
sickness  and  suffering.  He  is  now  the  old- 
est resident  physician  of  Centerburg, 
where  since  1883  he  has  followed  his  pro- 
fession. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Morrow  county. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


197 


Ohio,  September  8,  1855.  His  grandfa- 
ther, W.  O.  Phihips,  for  whom  he  was 
named,  Avas  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  be- 
came one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Knox  coun- 
ty. His  son,  James  S.  Phillips,  the  Doc- 
tor's father,  was  born  in  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  accompanied  his  parents 
on  their  emigration  westward.  After  ar- 
riving- at  years  of  maturity  he  married  Miss 
Rebecca  Ewalt,  a  daughter  of  Richard 
Ewalt,  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Knox 
county,  who  took  up  his  abode  in  Hilliar 
township,  where  his  daughter  was  bom. 
Mr.  Phillips  died  in  1868,  at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years.  Of  his  three  children  the 
Doctor  is  the  eldest.  The  only  daughter 
died  in  infancy  and  R.  D.  Phillips  is  now  a 
resident  of  the  state  of  Washington. 

Dr.  Phillips  was  only  about  four  years 
of  age  when  he  became  a  resident  of  Knox 
county,  and  in  1863  he  took  up  his  abode  in 
Centerburg.  He  pursued  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Mount  Liberty  and 
Liberty  township,  and  later  became  a  student 
in  the  Nomral  School  at  Lebanon,  Ohio. 
For  six  years  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
district  schools  of  Centerburg-  and  vicinity, 
but  this  was  only  a  means  to  an  end — a  step 
which  made  possible  his  desire  to  fit  himself 
for  the  medical  profession.  In  1879  he  be- 
came a  student  in  the  office  of  Dr.  B.  F. 
Jackson,  of  Chesterville,  Ohio,  and  was 
graduated  in  the  Cleveland  Homeopathic 
College,  in  February,  1883.  In  June  of  the 
same  year  he  opened  his  office  in  Center- 
burg, v>'here  he  has  since  remained  and  to- 
day he  is  the  oldest  physician  in  }'ears  of 
continuous  connection  with  the  town.  His 
skill  was  early  manifest  in  the  desirable  re- 
sults which  followed  his  ministrations  and 
in    consec|uence    his    patronage    constantly 


grew  until  the  demands  made  for  his  pro- 
fessional aid  leave  him  little  leisure  time. 
The  Doctor  is  also  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  the  town  as  treasurer  of 
the  Building  &  Loan  Association. 

In  May,  1878,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  Dr.  Phillips  and  Miss  S.  A.  McCracken, 
a  daughter  of  S.  S.  and  Antoinette  (Ayres)- 
McCracken.  She  was  born  in  Chesterville, 
Ohio,  September  19,  1857,  and  in  its 
schools  acquired  her  education.  She  is  a 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement  and  presides 
with  gracious  hospitality  over  her  pleasant 
home.  By  this  marriage  five  children  have 
been  born,  but  the  eldest  died  in  infancy 
and  the  third,  Karl  W.,  died  in  October, 
1895,  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  The  others 
are  Clarence  D.,  Hulah  May  and  Harry  S. 
M.  The  Doctor  is  a  very  prominent  Repub- 
lican and  has  served  as  delegate  to  various 
conventions.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in , 
political  work,  does  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote the  growth  and  insure  the  success  O'f 
his  party  and  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
issues  of  the  day.  He  is  president  of  the 
board  of  pension  examiners  of  Knox  county 
and  for  thirteen  years  was  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education  of  Centerburg,  retiring 
from  that  office  in  1890.  He  endorses 
every  measure  which  he  believes  will  pro- 
mote the  intellectual,  material,  social  and 
moral  advancement  of  the  community  and 
his  efforts  in  this  direction  have  not  been 
-without  result.  He  is  an  active  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  is  an  exemplary  representative 
of  the  ilasonic  and  Knights  of  P^-thias 
fraternities.  The  qualities  of  an  upright 
manhood  are  his  and  added  to  his  profes- 
sional skill  make  him  one  of  the  most  valua- 
ble citizens  of  Centerburg.     The  success  to 


A    CENTENNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


whicli  the  Doctor  has  attained  has  come  only 
as  the  result  of  adhering  tenaciously  to  a 
well  thought-out  course,  and  by  the  exercise 
of  indomitable  determinations  of  the  will, 
supplemented'  by  willing  hand  (and  active 
brain.  The  lesson  o-f  self-reliance  was  early 
learned,  whatever  honor  in  the  profession 
or  standing  in  business  circles  he  now  holds 
coming  as  the  result  of  the  intrinsic  quali- 
ties of  the  boy  developed  tO'  mature  ripeness 
in  the  man. 


SAMUEL  ORLIN  GANTT,  M.  D. 

Although  Dr.  Gantt  has  been  engaged  in' 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Centerburg  for 
only  the  brief  period  of  three  years  he  is 
already  enjoying  a  large  business,  which  is 
indicative  of  the  confidence  and  trust  re- 
posed in  him  by  the  public.  He  was  born 
in  Hilliar  township  September  14,  1861,  and 
is  a  son  of  Stephen  H.  and  Emily  (Barker) 
Gantt.  His  father  wa;  born  in  Virginia  in 
1 818,  and  in  1836  accompanied  his  parents 
on  their  removal  to  this  county,  the  journey 
being  made  across  the  moimtains,  through 
the  forests  and  over  the  plains  with  teams 
in  the  primitive  style  of  the  times,  for  no 
railroads  had  then  been  built.  Mr.  Gantt 
was  first  married  in  Mount  Vernon  to  Miss 
Eliza  Loveridge,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  six  children.  The  mother  died  about 
1857  and  Mr.  Gantt  was  again  married,  in 
1859,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Em- 
ily Barker,  a  native  of  England,  who  was 
brought  to  America  by  her  parents  when 
only  two  years  old.  The  family  located  in 
Gambler,  Knox  county,  where  she  was 
reared,  and  in  Hilliar  towaiship  she  gave  her 
hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Gantt.     His  death 


occurred  in  1896,  but  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject is  still  living.    They  had  five  children. 

Dr.  Gantt  is  the  oldest  son  and  second 
child  of  the  second  marriage  and  in  his  par- 
ents' home  he  was  surrounded  by  a  refining 
influence  and  taught  the  value  of  industry 
and  perseverance  in  the  busy  affairs  of  life. 
In  the  district  schools  he  obtained  his  pre- 
liminary education,  which  was  supplemented 
by  study  in  the  Utica  Normal  School.  For 
a  time  after  completing  his  school  course  he 
engaged  in  farming,  but  preferring  a  profes- 
sional career  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  B.  F.  Humber  in  1887.  Later  he 
matriculated  in  the  medical  department  of 
the  Western  Reser\'e  University,  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Starling  Medical  College,  in  Columbus,  with 
the  class  of  1890.  He  then  located  for  prac- 
tice in  Martinsburg,  where  he  remained  for 
nine  years,  and  in  1899  he  came  to  Center- 
burg, where  his  ability  as  a  physician  and 
surgeon  has  enabled  him  to  quickly  gain  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice. 

September  13,  1883,  the  Doctor  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  Teagar- 
den,  a  native  of  Milford  and  a  daughter  of 
D.  L.  and  Lucy  (Jennings)  Teagarden,  who 
had  two  daughtei",  Mrs.  Gantt  being  the  el- 
der. Three  sons  and  a  daughter  have  been 
born  unto  the  Doctor  and  his  wife;  Dale  B., 
Edith  M.,  Orlin  Lowell  and  Stephen  Bryant. 
In  his  political  vieAvs  the  Doctor  is  an  in- 
flexible Republican,  unfaltering  in  his  ad- 
vocacy of  the  principles  in  which  he  bel!e\'es 
so  strongly.  For  some  time  he  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  is 
now  acting  as  its  clerk.  His  entire  life  has 
been  spent  in  Knox  county  and  his  business 
has  been  of  such  a  nature  as  to  gain  to  him 
a  wide  acquaintance,  while  the  sterling  traits 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


199 


of  his  character  have  won  from  among  them 
many  warm  friends.  His  practice  extends 
into  adjoining  counties  and  he  may  well 
be  classed  among  the  leading  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  the  locality. 


STANTON  E.  DEELEY,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Stanton  E.  Deeley,  one  oi  the  well- 
known  and  successful  physicians  of  Mount 
Vernon,  located  here  in  1897,  and  has  ever 
since  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  and  surgery.  A  native  of  the 
city  of  Sandusky,  Ohio,  he  was  there  reared, 
receiving  his  elementary  education  in  its  pub- 
lic schools.  He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  E. 
Deeley,  who  was  also'  born  and  reared  in 
Sandusky  and  has  there  spent  his  entire  life, 
having  reached  the  sixtieth  milestone  on  the 
journey  of  life.  He  is  a  well-known  and 
active  citizen  of  that  city,  and  was  formerly 
engaged  in  contracting  but  is  now  living  re- 
tired, enjoying  the  rest  which  he  so  richly 
deserves.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
William  Deeley,  came  to  this  country  from 
London,  England,  and  in  the  '40s  he  located 
in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  he  also  became  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen.  He  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  passing  away 
at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 
He  established  the  first  fish  house  in  that 
city,  and  became  very  prominent  in  that  line 
of  trade.  Sandusky  has  now  the  largest  fish 
house  in  the  world,  owned  by  Booth,  of  Chi- 
cago. Mr.  Deeley  also  established  a  fish 
house  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  The  mother  of  our 
subject,  who  was  a  native  of  Erie  county, 
Ohio,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jennie  Steen, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  Steen,  who 
was  the  first  public  school  teacher  in  Erie 


county.  He  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland 
and  was  a  member  of  a  prominent  and  in- 
fluential family  of  that  locality. 

Stanton  E.  Deeley,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  has  for  a  number  of  years 
been  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  medical  fraternity  in  Knox  coun- 
ty, having  attained  high  distinction  in  the 
line  of  his  chosen  calling.  He  was  a  student 
in  the  Cleveland  University  of  Medicine  and 
Surgery,  graduating  in  that  institution  with 
the  class  of  1896,  and  in  the  following  year 
he  located  in  Mount  Vernon,  where  he  has 
achieved  an  enviable  success  and  won  the 
favorable  criticism  of  his  pro'fessional  breth- 
ren as  well  as  of  the  public.  He  has  made  a 
specialty  of  the  practice  of  surgery.  For  a 
number  of  years  Dr.  Deeley  served  as  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  in  the  Huron  Street  Hos- 
pital, at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  many  of  the  eminent  medical 
practitioners  of  that  city,  and  for  twO'  years 
he  was  associated  in  practice  with  H.  F. 
Beggar,  of  Cleveland.  His  knowledge  of 
the  medical  science  is  comprehensive  and  ac- 
curate, for  he  has  always  been  a  close  student 
of  the  profession  and  has  kept  in  touch  with 
the  progress  and  improvement  which  mark 
its  adK-ancement  at  present.  His  life  has 
been  characterized  by  devotion  to  every  duty 
and  he  commands  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all. 


JOHN   JEPPESEN. 

What  splendid  success  has  been  won  by 
mien  of  foreign  birth,  as,  taking  advantage 
of  the  excellent  opportunity  furnished  in  this 
land  where  "labor  is  king"  and  where  merit 
and  industrv  form  the  high  road  to  fortune. 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


they  have  steadily  worked  their  way  upward 
and  have  gained  rich  reward  for  their  toiL 
Such  is  the  history-  of  JNIr.  Jeppesen,  who  is 
now  proprietor  of  the  Centerburg  Creamery 
and  whose  investments  in  business  interests 
and  real  estate  here  have  been  cjuite  exten- 
sive and  profitable. 

A  native  of  Denmark,  he  was  born  July 
19,  1855,  and  was  reared  in  that  kingdom 
which,  though  small,  has  played  an  import- 
ant part  in  the  world's  history.  After  at- 
tending the  common  schools  he  continued 
his  education  in  the  Abe  high  school  and 
in  the  agricultural  schools  at  SeaJiolt.  Later 
he  became  overseer  on  a  large  estate,  occu- 
pying that  position  for  four  years  at  \Mn- 
tersburg,  and  for  a  year  and  a  half  he  was 
the  manager  of  another  estate  at  Boerumup. 
For  eighteen  months  he  engaged  in  militaiw 
service,  holding  the  rank  of  coriX)ral.  his 
army  life  covering  portions  of  the  year  1878 
and  1879  3t  Copenhagen. 

]\Ir.  Jeppesen  then  engaged  in  the  cream- 
ery business  in  his  native  land  until,  believ- 
ing that  he  could  better  his  financial  condi- 
tion in  America,  he  sailed  for  the  new  world, 
arriving  at  New  York  on  the  3d  of  June, 
1890.  Proceeding  westward  to  Chicago  he 
there  remained  for  some  time,  working  for 
a  dollar  and  a  half  per  day.  He  was  first 
employed  in  Kirk's  Soap  Factoiy  and  in 
the  spring  of  1891  he  took  a  po.=:tion  as  but- 
ter maker  in  the  employ  of  the  Fox  River 
Butter  Company,  at  Oswego,  Illinois,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  the  following  fall, 
when  he  returned  to  Chicago,  forming  a 
lousiness  connection  with  the  firm  of  Davis 
&  Rankin.  He  was  employed  by  them  to  op- 
erate creameries  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  one  in  Indiana,  one  in  Iowa  and  a 
third     in     Centerburg,     taking     charge     in 


1892.  He  continued  to  conduct  the  last  in 
the  interest  of  the  firm  for  five  years,  and  on 
the  1st  of  November,  1900,  he  purchased 
the  plant,  which  he  has  since  conducted  with 
excellent  success.  He  has  a  thorough  and 
comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  business, 
keeps  informed  concerning  the  latest  im- 
provements in  this  line  and  adopts  all  that 
he  believes  will  facilitate  the  business  and 
enable  him  to  supply  his  patrons  with  better 
grades  of  creamery  products.  The  superior 
excellence  of  his  output  has  secured  to  him 
a  very  large  patronage.  Much  of  the  suc- 
cess of  Mr.  Jeppesen  may  be  attributed  to 
the  fact  of  his  having  been  the  inventor  and 
patentee  of  creamery  machinery,  such  as 
cream  separators,  milk  elevators,  etc.  The 
milk  elevator  is  being  manufactured  by  the 
Elgin  Manufacturing  Company  and  used  in 
the  Sharpless  creameries,  returning  to  its 
inventor  a  handsome  royalty. 

Mr.  Jeppesen  is  a  man  of  unflagging  en- 
ergy- and  resourceful  business  ability  and 
has  extended  his  activities  into  other  fields 
where  his  labors  have  also  brought  good  re- 
sults. For  a  year  and  a  half  he  was  pro- 
prietor of  a  lumber  yard  and  was  in  the  im- 
plement business  for  a  year.  He  erected  a 
large  store  building  occupied  by  Hick  & 
Company,  also  the  one  now  owned  by  C. 
L.  Bishop.  Thus  he  has  been  closely  con- 
nected with  the  business  activity  of  Center- 
burg, his  labors  proving  of  benefit  to  the 
community  while  also  promoting  his  indi- 
vidual  prosperity. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1897,  ]\Ir.  Jeppesen 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mildred  R.  Rob- 
inson, a  daughter  of  John  and  Victoria 
(^^'hitney)  Robinson,  of  Buckeye  City, 
Ohio.  Prior  to  her  marriage  she  was  a 
teacher  in  the  high  school  of  Centerburg  for 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


two  years  and  is  a  lady  of  superior  intelli- 
gence and  culture.  By  her  marriage  she 
has  become  the  mother  of  one  son,  Frederick 
F.  N.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeppesen  are  members 
of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church  and  he 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  order  and  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  On  politi- 
cal questions  he  holds  views  independent  of 
party  ties  and  at  local  elections  supjwrts  the 
man  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  for  office. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  the  country  for  lit- 
tle more  than  eleven  years  and  what  he  has 
accomplished  in  this  comparatively  brief 
space  of  time  seems  almost  phenomenal,  for 
he  only  had  five  dollars  when  he  arrived  in 
Chicago  and  all  that  he  now  possesses  has 
been  won  since.  Brooking  no  obstacles  that 
could  be  overcome  by  detennined  purpose, 
through  industry,  perseverance,  capable 
management  and  honorable  dealing  he  has 
gradually  added  to  his  financial  resources 
until  he  is  now  one  of  the  substantial  citizens 
of  Centerburg. 


REV.  JOSEPH  T.  WORKMAN. 

Rev.  Joseph  T.  Workman  is  a  minister 
of  the  German  Baptist  church  and  is  also 
identified  with  the  farming  interests  of 
Knox  county.  He  is  numbered  among  its 
native  sons,  for  his  birth  occurred  in  Brown 
township,  on  the  15th  of  October,  1847. 
Flis  father  was  also  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel. He  was  the  Rev.  John  J.  Workman 
and  well  known  in  connection  with  Chris- 
tian activity  in  Knox  county.  His  wife  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Lucretia  De  Witt. 
They  maintained  their  home  in  Brown 
township,  and  under  the  parental  roof  the 
subject  of  this  review  was  reared.  He  at- 
tended  the  district  schools   for  some  time 


and  afterward  spent  four  and  one-half 
months  as  a  student  in  a  select  school.  He 
then  returned  home  and  for  some  time  fol- 
lowed the  profession  of  teaching  in  the  win- 
ter months,  while  in  the  summer  season  he 
assisted  in  the  further  development  and  cul- 
tivation of  the  home  farm.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  located  upon  a  farm,  where  he  yet 
resides,  and  has  since  conducted  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  his  thorough  understanding 
of  the  business,  combined  with  knowledge 
and  perseverance,  making  his  labors  of  ex- 
cellent financial  benefit.  He  began  his  min- 
isterial work  in  189 1,  and  as  pastor  of  the 
German  Baptist  church  at  Danville  he  is 
exercising  an  excellent  influence  over  the 
moral  development  and  religious  welfare  of 
his  community. 

On  the  5th  of  November,  1873,  Rev. 
Workman  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Lucinda  Grubb,  who.  is  the  tenth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  twelve  children  born  unto  Daniel  H. 
and  Elizabeth  (Brumbaugh)  Grubb,  who 
were  early  settlers  of  Pike  township.  There 
Mrs.  Workman  was  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated. By  her  marriage  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  three  children,  Cora  A.,  Eliza- 
beth and  Walter  D.,  all  at  home.  The  fam- 
ily reside  upon  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
eleven  acres  in  Brown  township  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Workman  enjoy  the  hospitality  of 
the  best  homes  of  the  neighborhood.  He 
votes  with  the  Democracy  and  is  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  the  party  whose  principle 
he  endorses.  Every  movement  which  he- 
believes  to  be  of  benefit  to  the  community 
receives  his  endorsement  and  his  work  and 
influence  are  of  no  restricted  order.  He  is 
most  earnest  and  zealous  in  behalf  of  the 
church,  and  by  example  as  well  as  by  pre- 
cept is  extending  the  power  of  the  denomi- 
nation which  he  represents. 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


NOAH  NYHART. 

Noah  Nyhart,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  section  7,  Jefferson  township,  is 
numbered  among  the  representatives  of  an 
early  pioneer  family  of  Knox  county.  Lit- 
tle is  known  concerning  the  ancestral  his-- 
tory  of  the  subject,  for  his  grandfather  died 
when  in  the  service  of  his  country  in  the  war 
of  18 1 2,  at  which  time  Jacob  Nyhart,  the 
father  of  Noah,  waj  a  small  boy.  He  came 
from  New  Jersey  tO'  the  Buckeye  state  at  an 
early  period  in  its  development  and  cast  in 
his  lot  with  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  coun- 
ty. Jacob  Nyhart  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
and  in  his  youth  and  early  manhood  ex- 
perienced all  the  hardship  and  privation  in- 
cident to  establishing  a  home  upon  the  fron- 
tier. Throughout  his  business  career  he 
was  identified  with  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  the  community,  and  his  last  years 
w^ere  spent  in  quiet  retirement  from  labor. 
He  was  more  than  ninety-one  years  of  age 
when  called  to  his  final  rest.  He  always 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democratic 
party  and  served  as  township  treasurer  and 
in  other  offices.  He  w^as  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  in  the  county  and  was  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  wedded  Mary  Smith,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  when  a 
young  lady  came  to  Knox  county.  Her  fa- 
ther, William  Smith,  who  was  also  born  in 
New  Jersey,  took  up  his  abode  in  Licking 
county  upon  his  arrival  in  Ohio,  but  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Knox  county,  where 
his  last  days  were  passed.  His  attention 
was  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits 
throughout  his  business  career.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nyhart  were  born  nine  children. 


all  of  whom  reached  adult  age,  and  six  are 
yet  living. 

Noah  Nyhart,  the  youngest  of  this  fam- 
ily, was  born  and  reared  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, his  natal  day  being  March  28,  185 1. 
He  attended  the  district  schools  near  his 
home  and  when  school  was  not  in  session 
assisted  in  the  work  of  the  fields  and  mead- 
ows. He  remained  at  home  until  his  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  in  1874.  Miss  Aman- 
da Ella  Hall  becoming  his  wife.  They  had 
two  sons  who  reached  maturity,  John  J. 
and  Charles  C,  residents  of  Brown  town- 
ship. After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  in 
1882,  Mr.  Nyhart  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  beiftg  with  Miss  Mary  Kay- 
lor,  who  died  June  20,  1896,  leaving  four 
daughters  and  a  son,  namely :  Elizabeth, 
Jennie,  Moniia,  Edna  and  Jesse,  all  of 
whom  are  at  home. 

At  the  time  of  his  first  marriage  Air. 
Nyhart  located  upon  the  farm  where  he  yet 
resides,  and  has  since  engaged  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  fields  and  the  raising-  of  stock. 
He  owns  two  hundred  and  seventeen  and  a 
half  acres  in  the  home  farm  and  in  Brown 
township  he  had  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
nine  acres,  which  he  has  given  to  his  son. 
He  carries  on  his  work  along  progressive 
lines,  and  his  fann,  with  its  rich  soil,  yields 
to  him  a  good  return  for  his  labors.  In 
1884  he  erected  a  modern  two-story  resi- 
dence, at  a  cost  of  about  two  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  in  1883  he  built  a  barn,  thirty-six 
by  sixty  feet.  He  also  has  another  house 
and  barn  on  this  place,  north  of  his  own 
home,  and  the  dwelling  is  occupied  by  the 
family  of  the  man  who  is  employed  to  assist  I 
in  the  farm  work.  In  his  political  vie^vs  ' 
Mr.  Nyhart  is  a  Republican,  but  while  he 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY;   OHIO. 


203 


keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day 
and  earnestly  supports  his  party's  principles, 
he  has  never  sought  or  desired  office,  his 
time  being  fully  occupied  with  his  farm 
work,  which  is  bringing  to  him  success. 


GEORGE  W.  SHULTS. 

George  W.  Shults  is  oiie  of  the  direc- 
tors of  the  county  infirmary  of  Knox  county 
and  an  enterprising  agriculturist  who  lives 
on  section  7,  Jefferson  township.  This  w^as 
also  his  birthplace,  and  his  natal  day  was 
October  8,  1846.  His  father,  Jacob  Shults, 
was  born  and  reared  in  Pennsylvania  and 
about  1820  left  the  Keystone  state  for  Ohio, 
taking  up  his  abode  in  Knox  county.  He 
resided  for  a  time  in  Danville  and  then  set- 
tled on  the  farm,  then  in  woods,  which  is 
now  the  home  of  our  subject.  There  he 
spent  his  remaining  days,  passing  away  at 
the  venerable  age  of  eighty-three  years.  He 
was  numbered  among  the  honored  pioneers 
of  the  county,  and  experienced  many  of  the 
hardships  and  trials  of  frontier  life  at  the 
time  when  he  assisted  in  reclaiming  the  wild 
land  for  purposes  of  civilization.  His  politi- 
cal allegiance  was  first  given  the  Whig 
party  and  later  he  joined  the  Republican 
ranks.  He  was  a  member  of  the  German 
Baptist  church  and  commanded  the  respect 
of  all  who  knew  him.  He  had  a  sister, 
Sarah,  who  became  Mrs.  George  Witt,  and 
she  also  came  to  Knox  county.  Mr.  Shults 
was  twice  married,  having  by  the  first  union 
nine  children.  For  his  second  .wife  he 
chose  Elizabeth  Coleman,  and  by  this  mar- 
riage there  were  six  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  mature  years,  while  five  are  yet 
living. 


George  W.  Shults,  who  was  the  second 
child  and  son,  spent  his  youthful  days  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  of  the 
period,  and  like  most  young  men  starting 
out  in  life  for  themselves,  he  sought  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  for  the  journey.  On 
the  23d  of  February,  1871,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Melvira  J.  Doty,  a  native  of 
Knox  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Lot  and 
Nancy  (Elliott)  Doty.  Their  union  f^^as 
been  blessed  with  the  following  named: 
Elmer  O.,  .who  married  Ufa  N3diart,  a 
daughter  of  William  Nyha.rt;  and  Bertha 
E.,  who  is  still  with  her  parents. 

For  a  few  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Shults  resided  upon  land  belonging  to  his 
father-in-law,  and  then  took  up'  his  abode 
on  the  old  Shults  homestead.  He  to-day 
owns  in  this  tract  ninety-six  acres,  and,  in 
addition,  one  hundred  acres  in  the  northerii 
part  of  the  township.  His  land  is  well 
cultivated  and  improved,  and  year  by  year 
rich  fields  return  to  him  a  good  income.  He 
exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support 
of  the  rrien  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  in  1899  was  elected  to  the  im- 
lX)rtant  position  of  a  director  of  the  county 
infirmary,  which  office  he  is  still  holding. 
For  several  years  he  was  a  trustee  of  Jeffer- 
son township,  and  in  all  public  offices  he  has 
discharged  his  duties  with  promptness  and 
fidelity.  Socially  he  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  the  GoWen  Eagle,  with  the 
Maccabees  and  with  the  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry. He  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
its  work  and  in  the  Sunday-school,  and  has 
served  as  trustee  and  steward.  His  life  has 
ever  been  actuated  by  honorable  and  manly 
principles  and  he  has  gained  the  unqualified 
regard  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  towns- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


whence  he  removedi  in  1849  to*  Gambier, 
men.  He  has  always  lived  in  this  com- 
munity, and  the  fact  that  his  warmest 
friends  are  numbered  among  those  who 
have  known  him  from  boyhood  is  an  indi- 
cation that  his  record  has  ever  been  one 
worthy  of  high   commendation. 


DAVID  K.  BLYSTON. 

Of  that  good  old  Pennsylvania  stock 
which  for  many  generations  has  everywhere 
in  America  stood  for  patriotism  and  pros- 
perity is  the  prominent  resident  of  Clay 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  whose  name 
is  above. 

David  K.  Blyston,  who  is  living  a  life 
of  retirement  at  Bladensburg,  in  the  county 
and  township  above  mentioned,  was  born 
one  mile  north  of  that  village,  October  10, 
1838. 

His  grandfather,  John  Blyston,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  located  in  Clay 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1824. 
Later  he  removed  to  Jackson  township, 
where  he  died  in  1846.  He  was  a  wagon- 
maker  by  trade,  but  gave  his  attention 
largely  to  farming.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Frances  Foster,  was  a 
daughter  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Foster,  in 
command  of  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  dying  in  the  service; 
and  Colonel  Crawford,  who  was  burned  at 
the  stake  near  Upper  Sandusky  by  Indians, 
was  her  first  cousin.  She  died  in  1861,  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Jackson  township, 
where  they  had  settled  in  1831. 

Henry  Blyston,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, March   i,   1803,  and  early  in  life 


was  brought  to  Harrison  county  by  his  par- 
ents. Later  he  returned  to  Clarion  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  there  married.  Re- 
turning to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1825,  he 
located  on  the  farm  on  which  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  no-w  lives,  making  a  clearing  in 
the  woods,  011  which  he  built  a  humble  log 
cabin.  After  he  cleared  and  improved  his 
farm  he  removed  to  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
where  for  some  years  he  was  engaged  in 
milling  and  merchandising.  In  185 1,  how- 
ever, he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Knox  coun- 
ty, where  he  died  in  1879.  He  was  suc- 
cessful as  a  business  man  and  prominent 
and  popular  as  a  citizen,  and  in  politics  was 
a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Ritter,  who  was  born  in  ClarT 
ion  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  July,  181 1, 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  Ritter,  also  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  she  died  in  her 
fifty-third  year.  Henry  and  Mary  A.  (Rit- 
ter) Blyston  were  the  parents  of  four  sons 
and  three  daughters,  of  whom  two  sons  and 
one  daughter  grew  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood. David  K.  Blyston,  the  fifth  of  his 
parents'  children  in  order  of  birth,  is  the 
only  one  of  them  now  living.  He  was 
reared  in  Jackson  township  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools  taught  near  his  home. 
In  1862,  after  having  established  himself 
as  a  farmer,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I, 
Eighty-fifth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, with  which  he  saw  active  service  in 
the  Civil  war  for  four  months.  He  then  en- 
listed in  the  Eighty-seventh  Regiment,  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  but  that  regiment  was 
consolidated  with  another  to  form  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Regiment,  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  he  was  a  member  of 
Company  F  of  that  organization,  with 
which  he  served  two  years  and  eight  months. 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


205 


He  was  made  fifth  sergeant  of  Company  F, 
and  early  in  1864  he  was  made  second  Heti- 
tenant  of  Company  C,  and  in  August, 
1864,  first  Heutenant  of  Company  A.  He 
had  charge  of  an  ambulance  corps  during  a 
portion  of  the  Atlanta  campaign.  At  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  September  20,  1863, 
he  was  wounded  in  the  right  shoulder  by  a 
ball  fired  by  a  Confederate  sharpishooter. 
At  the  fight  at  Franklin,  Tennessee,  No- 
vember 30,  1864,  he  was  shot  through  the 
left  lung  while  in  command  of  his  company, 
and  was  senior  officer  in  line  in  command 
of  his  regiment.  In  that  memorable  battle, 
which  was  fought  in  a  short  time,  the  total 
Union  and  Confederate  loss  was  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  sixty  killed  and 
about  four  thousand  wounded.  The  Union 
loss  was  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
killed  and  about  two  thousand  wounded  'and 
taken  prisoners.  After  remaining  thirty 
days  in  Hospital  No.  i,  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, Lieutenant  Blyston  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment at  Strawberry  Plain,  East  Tennessee. 
He  afterward  saw  memorable  service  at 
Knoxville,  Tennessee,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Nashville,  where  he  remained  un- 
til May  I,  1865.  After  he  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  he  returned  to  his  old 
home  in  Ohio. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Blyston  farmed  until 
1869,  when  he  removed  to  Bladensburg, 
and  there  conducted  a  general  store  until 
1 88 1,  when  he  retired  from  active  business. 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  Emerson  Up- 
dyke  Post,  No.  486,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  which  was  named  in  honor  of  its 
first  commander,  and  he  has  passed  more 
years  as  its  commander  than  any  other  of 
its  members.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Joe 
Hooker   Post  of  the  Grand   Army  of   the 


Republic,  and  has  been  active  in  all  the  work 
of  the  organization,  having  several  times 
been  a  delegate  to  state  encampments,  and 
once,  in  1901,  a  delegate  to  the  national  en- 
campment held  at  Cle\'eland,  Ohio.  He  has 
attained  prominence  as  a  Mason,  being  a 
member  of  Ohio  Lodge,  No.  199,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  of  Bladensburg;  Clinton 
Chapter,  No.  9,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  of 
Mount  Vernon;  and  Clinton  Commandery, 
No.  5,  Knights  Templars,  of  Mount  Ver- 
non. He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  No.  316,  of  Mount 
Vernon,  and  of  the  lodge  of  Knights  of 
Pjthias,  of  Bladensburg.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Christian  church  and  is  an 
elder  in  the  Bladensburg  organization  of 
that  body,  in  which  he  fills  the  office  of  sec- 
retary. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
as  such  he  has  been  called  to  several  local 
offices,  among  them  that  of  township  trus- 
tee. 

M!r.  Blyston  married  Miss  Esther  A. 
Jacobs,  November  16,  1863.  Mrs.  Blys- 
ton was  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Nancy 
(Melton)  Jacobs  and  was  born  in  Pleasant 
township,  Knox  county,  Oliio.  She  was 
educated  in  the  schools  near  her  home  and 
is  an  admirable  woman  of  the  highest  char- 
acter and  of  many  graces  and  accomplish- 
ments, highly  esteemed  in  a  large  circle  of 
acquaintances. 


WILLIAM  R.  BODY. 

William  R.  Body  is  numbered  among 
the  native  sons  of  Knox  county,  and  is  a 
progressive  agriculturist  whose  active  and 
well-spent  life  has  won  him  success  in  his 
business  career.     He  resides  on  section  17, 


20$ 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


Jefferson  township,  where  he  has  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  well  cultivated  and  improved. 
Mr.  Body  was  born  in  this  township, 
June  22,  1 85 1.  His  father,  Col.  John  Body, 
was  a  native  of  England  and  when  foiirteen 
years  of  age  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  Canada, 
Knoix  county,  Ohio.  He  was  a  shoemaker 
by  trade  and  there  followed  that  pursuit, 
making  boots  and  shoes  for  the  students  in 
the  college  for  about  two  years.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  he  removed  to  Dan- 
ville, where  he  followed  the  same  calling, 
and  after  three  years  he  went  to  New  Castle, 
Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  shoemaking  until 
his  removal,  in  1855,  to  the  farm  upon 
which  our  subject  now  resides.  He  then  de- 
voted his  energies  to  agricultural  pursuits 
until,  prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  he 
offered  his  services  to  the  government  as  a 
defender  of  the  Union  and  joined  the  boys 
in  blue  of  Company  A,  Sixty-fifth  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry.  He  entered  the  serv- 
ice as  a  private  but  was  soon  promoted  to 
sergeant,  afterward  becoming  second  lieu- 
tenant, and  when  honorably  discharged  was 
captain  of  Company  A.  He  served  for 
three  years  and  was  ever  a  loyal  soldier, 
valiantly  defending  the  old  flag  and  the 
cause  it  represented.  Physical  disability 
necessitated  his  retirement  from  the  field, 
preventing  him  from  serving  until  the  close 
of  hostilities,  as  he  wished  to  do.  He  is  now 
familiarly  known  as  Colonel  Body,  and  has 
a  war  record  of  which  he  lias  every  reason 
to  be  proud,  for  he  displayed  valor  on  many 
a  hotly-contested  battlefield.  He  took  part 
in  the  engagements  at  Stone  River,  Chick- 
amauga.  Missionary  Ridge  and  many 
others.  He  is  still  living  in  Danville,  and 
commands  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  been  associated. 


John  Body  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  Greer,  who'  was  born  in  Union  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  and  is  a  sister  of  H.  H. 
Greer,  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  of  J.  T.  Greer, 
of  Toledo.  The  family  was  one  of  promi- 
nence in  this  part  of  Ohio  and  was  estab- 
lished in  Knox,  county  during  the  days  of 
its  early  development.  Her  father,  Alex- 
ander Greer,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  came 
to  Knox  county  with  his  father,  Colonel 
John  Greer,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  and 
who,  at  the  time  of  the  second  war  with 
England,  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Ameri- 
can armies,  commanding  a  regiment  in  the 
struggle.  Emigrating"  tO'  Ohio,  he  settled 
in  the  midst  of  the  dense  forest  in  Jeffer- 
son township,  Knox  county,  and  built  a  log 
house,  becoming  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
locality.  Mrs.  Body,  a  most  estimable  lady, 
died  when  about  sixty-eight  years  of  age, 
leaving  her  husband  and  a  son  and  daughter 
to  mourn  her  loss.  The  daughter  is  Vic- 
toria L.,  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Biggs,  of  Dan- 
ville. 

William  R.  Body;  the  only  son,  was 
reared  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  his 
home,  and  his  early  education  was  acquired 
in  the  common  schools,  suipplemenited  by 
study  in  the  Danville  high  school.  He  after- 
ward engaged  in  teaching  in  the  district 
schools  of  Jefferson,  Howard  and  Brown 
townships  through  five  successive  winter 
seasons,  and  in  the  summer  months  he  de- 
voted his  energies  to  farming.  Since  that 
time  his  entire  attention  has  been  given  to 
the  work  of  the  fields,  and  success  has  at- 
tended his  eft'orts,  which  have  brought  to 
him  a  comfortable  competence. 

In  1874  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Body  and  ]\Iiss  Lydia  A.  Bradfield,  a 
sister  of   Dr.    C.    R.    Bradfield,    and    their 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


union  has  been  blessed  with  seven  children, 
as  follows :  Charles  A.  who  married  Nellie 
Blair,  and  who  is  a  railroad  employe  with 
the  Cleveland,  Akron  &  Columbus  Rail- 
road; Mary  Edith,  who  is  living  at  home; 
J.  Harry  and  Robert,  both  at  home;  Nora, 
the  wife  of  Herbert  Whitney,  of  Brown 
township ;  James  W.,  assisting  his  father  on 
the  farm ;  and  Herbert,  who  resides  with  his 
parents.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Body  is 
a  stanch  Republican  and  has  been  honored 
with  several  local  offices,  including  that  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  he  served  for 
three  years.  His  life  has  been  quiet  and 
uneventful,  yet  has  been  marked  by  fidelity 
to  duty  in  every  public  and  private  relation. 
He  is  widely  known  for  his  sterling  worth 
and  is  an  estimable  representative  of  an  hon- 
ored pioneer  family. 


CAPTAIN  CHARLES  HENRY  COE. 

Among  the  valiant  men  that  Ohio  sent 
10  the  front  to  aid  in  the  preservation  of  the 
Union  in  the  Civil  war  was  Captain  C.  H. 
Coe  who  is  now  living  a  retired  life  upon  his 
farm  in  Hilliar  township,  Knox  county. 
With  love  for  his  native  land,  reverence  for 
its  institutions  and  its  government  and  with 
a  courageous  spirit  that  enabled  him  to 
bravely  face  danger,  he  rendered  to  his 
country  effective  service  and  all  through  the 
years  of  his  life,  whether  in  times  of  peace 
or  war.  he  has  been  a  patriotic  and  public 
spirited  citizen. 

The  Captain  was  born  near  Frederick- 
town,  Maryland,  November  5,  1823.  His 
father,  Joshua  Coe,  was  also  boni  in  that 
state  and  was  reared  and  married  there. 
By  occupation    he  was  a  farmer,  following 


that  pursuit  throughout  his  business  career. 
In  1825  he  emigrated  westward  to  Licking 
county,  Ohio,  settling  near  Utica.  In  early 
life  he  had  learned  the  brickmaker's  trade 
and  after  coming  to  Ohio  he  manufactured 
all  of  the  first  brick  used  in  the  construction 
of  buildings  in  Utica.  Subsequently  he  re- 
moved to  Knox  county,  where  he  died  in 
1841,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  He 
was  a  Whig  in  his  political  affiliations  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  took  an  ac- 
tive and  helpful  part.  He  held  a  number  of 
its  offices  and  also  filled  political  positions. 
His  wife,  who  in  her  maidenhood  was  Mary 
Burgoon,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  a 
daughter  of  Francis  Burgoon,  who  died  in 
Somerset,  Perry  county,  Ohio,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-nine  years.  Mrs.  Coe 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-three. 
She  was  the  mother  of  eight  children,  but 
the  eldest,  a  son,  died  in  infancy.  The 
others  were  Katharine,  Mary,  Francis,  Da- 
vid, Charles  H.,  Thomas  D.  and  William. 

Captain  Coe  was  only  two  years  of  age 
when  taken  by  his  parents  to  Licking  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1825.  His  childhood  days  were 
spent  in  a  manner  not  unusual  to  farmer  lads 
of  the  period.  He  worked  in  the  fields 
through  the  summer  months  and  in  the  win- 
ter season  he  pursued  his  education  in  an 
old-time  log  school  house.  When  seven- 
teen years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn 
the  trade  of  a  tanner  and  currier,  and  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  until  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  On  the  27th  of 
July,  1 86 1,  he  went  to  Camp  Chase,  where 
he  was  offered  the  position  of  quartermaster 
by  Colonel  Fuller,  but  this  he  declined  and 
was  thereupon  commissioned  adjutant  by 
General  Buckingham  to  recruit  soldiers.     In 


208 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


1862,  however,  he  resigned  that  position 
and  took  the  place  of  Elmer  McNaiighton, 
one  of  the  drafted  men,  as  a  private.  In 
September,  1862,  when  in  camp  at  Zanes- 
ville  he  was  appointed  by  Adjutant  General 
George  B.  Wyatt  to  recruit  for  independent 
sharpshooters,  securing  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  men.  and  with  these  went  to 
Cleveland  to  be  tested,  eighty-two  of 
the  number  standing  the  test  .  as 
marksmen.  On  the  i6th  of  October 
of  that  year  Mr.  Coe  was  commissioned  as 
captain  of  the  Sixth  Company  of  Ohio  In- 
pedendent  Volunteer  Sharpshooters,  com- 
posed of  his  own  recruits,  who  were  the  first 
soldiers  armed  with  the  Spencer  rifle,  the  in- 
ventor visiting  them  and  giving  the  officers 
a  dinner  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee.  Cap- 
tain Barber,  who  served  as  commander  of 
the  battalion,  was  disabled  at  Murfreesboro 
and  as  Captain  Coe  was  the  next  oldest  com- 
manding officer,  he  took  charge  of  the  bat- 
talion. On  the  24th  of  June,  1863  they 
started  on  the  Chattanooga  campaign  and 
Captain  Coe,  with  his  command,  was  in  all 
of  the  engagements  with  General  Rosecrans 
and  was  made  quartermaster  general. 
Captain  Coe  was  with  the  forces  of  General 
Thomas,  wheii  the  latter  succeeded  Rose- 
crans. In  1864,  he  was  pronounced  disabled 
b)-  the  surgeons,  and  on  accoimt  of  his  disa- 
bility resigned  his  position  and  returned 
home. 

On  the  loth  of  November,  1844.  Captain 
Coe  had  been  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Ann 
Conard,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Conard,  of 
Utica,  the  oldest  settler  of  Knox  county, 
having  taken  up  his  abode  within  its  bor- 
ders in  1805  from  Fredericktown,  Virginia. 
Fredericktown,  Ohio,  was  named  by  him 
and  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  pioneer 


development  of  this  part  of  the  state.  His 
daughter,  Mrs.  Coe,  died  December  7,  1873, 
leaving  four  children:  Alice  Filenia, 
Charles  Wesley,  Jennie  Eliza  and  Judson 
Conard.  On  the  13th  of  December,  1875, 
the  Captain  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Sarah  E.  Mills,  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  Mills.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  is  one  daughter.  Lelia  Pearl,  at 
home  and  a  graduate  of  the  Harcourt  Semi- 
nar}-. 

In  his  early  manhood  Captain  Coe  voted 
the  Whig  ticket  and  on  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party  joined  its  ranks  and 
has  since  been  one  of  its  stalwart  supporters. 
In  185 1  he  was  nominated  on  the  Whig 
ticket  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state 
legislature  and  was  everywhere  known  as 
the  "boy  candidate."  Although  there  was 
a  usual  Democratic  majority,  such  was  his 
popularity  and  personal  worth  that  he  suc- 
ceeding in  reducing  the  Democratic  vote  un- 
til he  was  defeated  by  only  forty-one  major- 
ity by  John  Bell.  He  has  since  declined  the 
nomination  for  county  treasurer  and  also 
that  of  state  senator,  but  has  held  all  the 
local  township  offices,  including  that  of  land 
appraiser,  while  for  thirteen  years  he  was 
assessor.  Socially  he  is  identified  with  the 
Masonic  order  and  also  belongs  to  Debolt 
Post,  G.  A.  R.  in  which  he  has  filled  part  of 
the  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  and  upright  principles 
have  ever  actuated  his  life  and  shaped  his 
dealings  with  his  fellow  men.  He  is  now 
living  retired  but  he  still  makes  his  home 
upon  his  farm,  which  comprises  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five  acres  of  valuable  land  in 
Hilliar  township,  in  addition  to  which  he 
owns  property  at  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas. 
As  a  soldier  on  the  field  of  battle,  as  an  en- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


209 


terprising  agriculturist,  as  a  representative 
of  fraternal  and  church  relations  he  has  ever 
conamanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his 
fellow  men. 


C.  W.  COE. 

Through  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury C.  W.  Coe  was  a  representative  of  the 
farming  interests  of  Knox  county  and  is 
now  actively  associated  with  his  financial  in- 
terests as  president  of  the  Building  &  Loan 
Association  of  Centerburg  and  as  a  stock- 
holder and  director  of  the  Centerburg  Bank. 
He  was  born  in  Washington  township. 
Licking  county,  Ohio,  December  25,  1848, 
and  is  the  second  child  of  Captain  C.  H.  and 
Eliza  A.  (Conard)  Coe.  His  father,  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  emigrated  westward  to 
the  Buckeye  state  and  after  residing  for  a 
time  in  Licking  county  became  a  prominait 
farmer  of  Hilliar  township,  Knox  county. 
Mrs.  Coe  was  born  on  the  same  farm  where 
occurred  the  birth  of  their  son,  C.  W.  Coe, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years. 
Her.  children  are:  Alice  P.,  the  wife  of 
George  T.  Rinehardt,  of  Hilliar  township; 
C.  W.,  of  this  review ;  Jennie,  the  wife  of  J. 
S.  Sutton,  a  resident  of  Hilliar  township ; 
and  Judson,  who  is  also  living  in  Center- 
burg. 

C.  W.  Coe  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Knox  county  and  much  of  his 
boyhood  previously  spent  had  been  in  work- 
ing in  a  tan  yard.  Here  he  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  his  advanced  education  was 
obtained  by  one  year's  study  in  the  Lebanon 
Normal,  one  year  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
University,  and  one  year  in  the  pharmacy 


department  of  the  L'niversity  of  Michigan. 
He  clerked  for  a  while  in  a  drug  store  at 
Springfield,  Ohio,  and  then  located  on  the 
old  homestead,  where  he  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  stock  raising  for  twenty- 
seven  years.  He  placed  the  land  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  the  well  tilled 
fields  annually  returned  to  him  golden  har- 
vests. In  1893  he  took  up'  his  residence  in 
Centerburg,  but  he  still  superintends  a  fine 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  acres, 
situated  in  Licking  county  and  which  was 
once  the  property  of  his  grandfather,  Joseph 
Conard,  who  came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio 
and  secured  this  tract  of  land,  from  which 
•he  developed  the  first  farm  in  Washington 
township.  On  coming  to  Centerburg  Mr. 
Coe  took  his  place  as  a  prominent  factor  in 
financial  circles  and  is  now  the  president  of 
the  Building  &  Loan  Association,  the  affairs 
of  which  are  conducted  on  such  a  safe  and 
systematic  basis  that  the  stockholders  an- 
nually receive  a  satisfactory  dividend  on 
their  investments,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
association  is  of  vast  benefit  to  the  commun- 
ity, enabling  many  to  obtain  homes  through 
the  facilities  thus  afforded. 

Dec.  25,  1880,  Mr.  Coe  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Bell  Riley,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Susan  (Curtis)  Riley,  who  were 
early  settlers  of  Knox  county,  and  who  had 
a  family  of  twelve  children,  all  natives  of 
this  county.  Mrs.  Coe,  who  is  the  youngest, 
spent  her  girlhood  days  here  and  after  at- 
tending the  district  schools  was  for  one  year 
a  student  in  a  seminary  in  Delaware.  Since 
1893  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  occu- 
pied a  very  pleasant  home  in  Centerburg. 
Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Masonic 
order,  being  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge  at 
Centerburg,  Clinton  Chapter,  No.  26,  and 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


Clinton  Commandery,  No.  5,  K.  T.,  of 
]\Iount  Vernon.  In  politics  he  is  unfalter- 
ing in  his  advocacy  of  Republican  principles 
and  religiously  he  is  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is 
now  serving  as  trustee.  He  has  a  business 
record  which  is  unassailable  and  his  social 
qualities  and  upright  nature  have  gained 
hinT  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  many 
warm  friends. 


CARY  E.  WOLFE. 


x-\merica  has  so  many  self-made  men 
that  often  it  is  hard  to  point  one  out  as  es- 
pecially deserving  of  notice.  Self-made  men 
vary  in  kind  as  widely  as  in  the  sum  total 
of  their  individual  achievements,  and  if  there 
is  any  representative  of  the  class  who  should 
receive  attention  in  a  work  of  this  kind  it  is 
the  man  whose  childhood  was  marked  with 
misfortune  and  poverty  and  who  in  spite  of 
numerous  obstacles  and  discouragements  has 
made  his  way  to  noteworthy  and  respectable 
success.  Such  a  man  is  Cary  E.  Wolfe,  a 
prominent  farmer  on  section  19,  Harrison 
township,  Knox  county,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Wolfe  may  be  said  to  be  a  product 
of  Harrison  township,  having  been  born 
there  May  9,  1856.  He  is  a  brother  of  Eli 
A.  Wolfe,  of  Howard  township,  a  bio- 
graphical sketch  of  whom  appears  in  this 
work.  Mr.  Wolfe,  who  is  the  eldest  of  his 
parents'  family  of  two  sons  and  a  daughter, 
was  reared  in  Harrison  township,  where  he 
received  scanty  schooling  in  the  Dudgeon 
district.  When  his  father  died  he  was  only 
six  years  old,  and  being  the  oldest  of  the 
family  the  care  of  the  farm  and  a  great  deal 
of  hard  work  devolved  upon  him  in  his  ef- 


fort to  keep  their  little  household  together 
and  place  the  family  on  a  substantial  foot- 
ing. He  developed  into  a  practical  and  suc- 
cessful farmer,  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-six  acres  of  good 
land,  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, is  well  provided  with  buildings  and  is 
in  every  way  well  equipped  for  successful 
operations.  He  is  a  breeder  of  thorough- 
bred American  Delaine  sheep,  of  which  he 
has  a  fine  herd,  more  than  twenty-fivQ  of  his 
sheep  being  registered. 

February  7,  1878,  Mr.  Wolfe  married 
Miss  Mary  J.  Ulery,  daughter  of  Valentine 
and  Lydia  Ann  (Uhl)  Ulery.  Mrs.  Wolie, 
who  was  the  second  of  the  five  children  of 
her  parents,  was  born  at  Killbuck,  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  but  was  reared  in  Harrison 
township,  Knox  county,  where  she  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wolfe  began  housekeeping  in  a  log  house 
on  the  site  of  their  present  residence.  The 
latter  was  built  in  1881  and  is  a  substantial 
frame  structure  in  every  way  adequate  and 
comfortable.  Mr.  Wolfe,  who  is  an  ardent 
Democrat,  has  filled  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  for  more  than  six  years  and  has 
for  many  years  been  a  member  of  the  town- 
ship school  board,  in  which  capacity  he  was 
influential  in  improving  the  standard  of  the 
schools  of  the  township  and  in  erecting  mod- 
ern school  buildings.  He  was  received  as 
an  Entered  Apprentice,  passed  the  Fellow 
Craft  degree  and  raised  to  the  sublime  de- 
gree of  Master  Mason  in  Ohio  Lodge,  No. 
199,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Bladens- 
burg;  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Wood- 
men of  America,  and  is  actively  identified 
with  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  He  haS- 
long  affiliated  with  the  Christian  church,  in 
which  for  many  years  he  has  filled  the  of- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


fice  of  deacon,  and  in  the  good  work  of  the 
church  he  has  participated  most  helpfully. 
Gary  E.  and  Mary  J.  (Ulery)  Wolfe 
have  two  daughters — Cordia  May,  who  mar- 
ried Walter  Earlywine,  a  contractor  and 
builder  in  Harrison  township,  and  Estella 
M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Willis  Beboutt,  and 
has  a  daughter  named  Mary  Elizabeth,  who 
is  the  only  grandchild. 


JOSEPH  H.  HAMILTON. 

Rev.  Joseph  H.  Hamilton  is  a  super- 
annuated minister  of  the  Methodist  Protest- 
ant church,  residing  ii;  Mount  Vernon.  For 
more  than  a  half  century  he  devoted  his  life 
to  the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry  and 
the  influence  of  his  labors  has  been  incalcul- 
able. He  came  to  Knox  county  in  1855,  and 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  time  since  that 
year  his  time  and  talents  have  been  given 
to  the  work  of  uplifting  his  fellow  men  in 
this  portion  of  Ohio,  spreading  the  gospel 
among  those  with  whom  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated and  thus  developing  characters  that 
exemplify  all  that  is  highest  and  best  in  life. 
Rev.  Joseph  Hamilton  was  born  in  Mus- 
kingum township,  Muskingum  county,  Ohio, 
July  23,  1826,  and  is  of  Scotch  lineage,  for 
his  grandfather  William  Hamilton  was  a 
native  of  Scotland  and  founded  the  family 
in  America.  In  West  Virginia  occurred  the 
birth  of  the  Rev.  William  Hamilton,  the 
father  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this 
record.  He,  too,  became  a  preacher  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  church,  and  as  early 
as  1828  and  1829  he  was  engaged  in  pro- 
claiming the  gospel  to  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  this  locality.     He  lived  to    be  seventy- 


eight  years  of  age  and  left  behind  him  the 
memory  of  a  noble  hfe  which  remains  as  a 
blessed  benediction  to  all  who  knew  him. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Lydia  Springer,  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Springer  and  a  granddaughter  of  Chris- 
topher Springer,  who  settled  in  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  before  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Mrs.  Hamilton  died  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten  sons  and 
two  daughters,  and  all  of  the  former  aver- 
aged six  feet  in  height.  Four  of  the  num- 
ber served  as  soldiers  in  the  Union  army,  in- 
cluding Captain  H.  C.  Hamilton,  of  Rich- 
wood,  Union  county,  Ohio,  who  commanded 
a  company  of  the  Ninety-sixth  Ohio  Infan- 
try. Another  brother.  Dr.  Isaac  Newton 
Hamilton,  of  Marysville,  Ohio,  was  a  sur- 
geon in  the  army,  while  a  third.  Dr.  Thoma'S 
Benton  Hamilton,  was  a  surgeon  with  an 
Illinois  regiment  and  died  in  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee. Another  member  of  the  family  was 
Dr.  John  W.  Hamilton,  of  Columbus,  Ohio, 
professor  of  surgery  in  the  Starling  Medical 
College,  and  his  sons  are  now  eminent 
physicians  in  Columbus.  One  of  his 
nephews  was  Governor  John  M.  Hamilton, 
of  Illinois. 

In  the  common  schools  Rev.  Joseph  H. 
Hamilton  pursued  his  education,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  began  to  preach.  His 
time  and  talents  have  ever  been  devoted  to 
the  service  of  the  Master  and  he  has  been 
instrumental  in  turning  many  from  the  er- 
rors of  their  ways  to  walk  in  the  straight 
and  narrow  path  which  leads  unto  life  ever- 
lasting. For  five  years  he  was  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Steubenville,  Ohio,  and  for 
two  years  in  Gircleville.  He  also  spent  two 
3-ears  in  Lancaster  and  for  three  years  oc- 
cupied the  pulpit  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


church  in  Brownsville,  Licking  county.  In 
1855  he  came  to  Knox  county,  locating  at 
Fredericktown,  where  he  preached  for  the 
church  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1865  he 
cnme  to  Mount  Vernon  and  was  pastor  of 
the  church  in  this  place  for  twelve  years. 
He  had  been  connected  with  the  Mount  Ver- 
non circuit  for  five  years,  and  in  his  min- 
isterial capacity  has  traveled  extensively 
throughout  this  county,  preaching  and  labor- 
ing for  the  upbuilding  of  the  cause  of  Chris- 
t-anity.  During  his  long  connection  with 
the  ministry  he  has  attended  over  fifteen 
hundred  funerals  and  has  performed  twelve 
hundred  and  seventy-two  marriage  cere- 
monies in  Knox  county.  After  fifty  years 
of  active  work  in  the  ministry  he  was  re- 
tired in  1894  to  a  superannuated  position, 
and  his  rest  is  well  deserved,  for  with  un- 
tiring zeal  and  in  the  most  self-sacrificing 
manner  he  has  labored  for  the  church,  whose 
interests  have  from  his  early  life  been  most 
dear  to  him. 

Rev.  Hamilton  was  united  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimony,  in  Muskingum  county, 
to  jMiss  Charlotte  M.  Rodman,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  Rodman,  a  native  of  Bucks  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  and  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  old  families  of  that  state.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton  have  been  born  two 
sons  and  a  daughter,  the  eldest  being  Ed- 
ward C,  a  printer  of  Mount  Vernon.  The 
second  was  Mrs.  George  Turner,  of  Mount 
Vernon,  who  is  now  deceased.  She  and  her 
husband  were  of  great  assistance  in  church 
work  and  her  loss  throughout  the  commu- 
nity was  deeply  felt.  Mary  L.,  the  young- 
est, is  the  wife  of  W.  E.  Jackson,  of  Mount 
Vernon.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Adrian  Col- 
lege, of  Adrian,  Michigan,  and  is  a  teacher 
of  music. 


For  fifty-five  years  Rev.  Hamilton  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  for  fifty-three  years  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  has  been  a  most 
worthy  representative  of  the  fraternal  spirit 
of  these  orders,  whose  beneficent  teachings 
are  founded  upon  the  instruction  which  was 
given  by  Him  who  came  to  minister  and  not 
to  be  ministered  unto.  He  is  also  identified 
with  the  Soils  of  Temperance,  has  been  rep- 
resentative to  the  grand  lodge  and  for  years 
served  as  its  grand  chaplain.  Whatever  tends 
to  advance  kindliness,  benevolence,  tolerance, 
the  good,  the  just,  the  true  and  the  right 
has  received  his  endorsement  and  his  co-op- 
eration as  far  as  it  lay  in  his  power  to  give. 
His  church  grew  and  prospered  under  his 
labors,  and  the  influence  of  his  life  cannot 
be  measured  by  any  of  the  known  standards 
of  this  life. 


GOSHORN  A.  JONES. 

General  Goshorn  Alexander  Jones  has 
passed  the  eighty-ninth  milestone  on  the 
journey  of  life,  yet  is  still  actively  concerned 
with  business  interests,  managing  his  exten- 
sive realty  holdings.  His  has  been  an  active, 
industrious,  useful  and  honorable  career,  and 
through  more  than  two-thirds  of  a  century 
he  has  resided  in  Mount  Vernon,  identified 
with  the  business  affairs  of  the  city  and  with 
all  movements  for  the  general  welfare.  He 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1812.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  born 
m  the  little  rock-ribbed  country  of  Wales, 
and,  deciding  to  try  his  fortune  in  America, 
became  the  founder  of  this  branch  of  the 
Jones  family.  His  son,  Jacob  Jones,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  also  a  native  of 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


213 


Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  whence  he 
removed  to  Washington  county,  that  state, 
his  death  occurring  near  Pittsburg.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Goshorn,  also  a  native  of 
Franklin  county. 

In  the  state  of  his  nativity  General  Jones 
pursued  his  education  in  the  primitive 
schools  of  the  times.  It  was  in  1834  that 
he  determined  to  leave  Pennsylvania  and 
seek  his  fortune  in  a  district  further  west. 
Accordingly  he  made  his  way  to  Knox  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  for  sixteen  years  was  con- 
nected with  the  mercantile  interests  of 
Mount  Vernon,  meeting  with  good  success 
in  that  undertaking.  In  1850,  however,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  contracting,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  that  business.  He  has 
contributed  in  large  measure  to  the  upbuild- 
ing and  improvement  of  the  city  as  the  years 
have  passed  by  and  now  owns  a  large 
amount  of  property  here,  which  he  still  man- 
ages, although  he  is  now  eighty-nine  y.ears 
of  age.  Such  a  history  of  continued  useful- 
ness should  put  to  shame  many  a  man  of 
much  younger  years,  who,  grown  weary  of 
the  struggle  and  trials  of  business  life,  would 
relegate  to  others  the  burdens  tliat  he  should 
bear. 

In  this  city  General  Jones  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Raymond,  a 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Nathan  Raymond,  a 
}>Iethodist  Episcopal  minister  who  resided 
in  this  city  for  a  number  of  years,  coming 
to  the  west  from  New  York.  'Sir.  and  Mrs. 
Jones  have  two  children,  Fred,  who  takes 
railroad  contracts  and  makes  his  home  in 
Mount  Vernon,  and  Ida,  the  wife  of  James 
Israel. 

The  General  has  been  c|uite  prominent  in 
public  affairs  aside  from  his  business  rela- 
tions.    In  1840  he  joined  the  Ohio  militia 


as  a  member  of  the  cavalry,  was  elected  bri- 
gade general  of  the  district  and  served  with 
that  rank  for  nine  years,  on  the  expiration  of 
which  period  he  withdrew  from  military 
service.  For  two  terms  he  served  as  United 
States  marshal  under  President  Zachary 
Taylor,  and  for  many  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  of  Mount  Vernon. 
He  was  born  during  the  first  administration 
of  President  Madison  and  has  therefore  lived 
during  the  rule  of  twenty-three  of  the  twen- 
ty-six presidents  of  the  United  States.  He 
has  witnessed  the  wonderful  development  of 
the  country  from  a  period  long  remote  to 
that  seen  by  many  men  who  are  now  prom- 
inent in  business  and  at  all  times  he  has  kept 
in  touch  with  the  universal  progress.  His 
life  has  been  one  of  beneficial  activity  and  in 
the  evening  of  his  pilgrimage  he  receives  the 
honor  and  respect  which  should  e\-er  be  ac- 
corded to  one  of  advanced  years. 


GEORGE  SYLVANUS  BENNETT. 

Dr.  George  S.  Bennett  is  a  native  son  of 
this  citv,  and  his  early  education  was  ob- 
tained in  its  public  schools.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Sylvanus  Bennett,  was  born  on 
Long  Island,  but  when  a  young  man  re- 
moved to  a  farm  adjoining  the  fort  of  Ticon- 
deroga.  He  was  a  gallant  soldier  during  the 
war  of  1812.  His  father,  John  Bennett,  was 
killed  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He 
was  a  resident  of  Long  Island,  where  the 
family  had  been  established  at  a  very  early 
date,  they  having  come  to  America  from 
England  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century. 

Clark  Lester  Bennett,  the  father  of  our 


214 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


subject,  resided  on  his  father's  farm  at  Fort 
Ticonderoga  for  a  number  of  years,  and  the 
property  is  still  owned  by  members  of  the 
family.  In  1824  he  came  to  Mount  Vernon, 
Ohio,  where  he  became  well  and  favorably 
known.  In  an  early  day  he  served  his  local- 
ity as  a  constable  and  as  city  marshal.  As  a 
companion  and  helpmate  on  the  journey  of 
life  Mr.  Bennett  chose  Nancy  Jones,  the  eld- 
est child  of  James- Jones,  who  came  from 
Essex  county.  New  York,  tO'  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  in  1824,  where  he  became  a  prominent 
and  leading  farmer.  His  death  occurred  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  Mrs.  Ben- 
nett's maternal  grandfather,  Thomas  Pat- 
terson, died  in  Essex  county.  New  York,  at 
the  age  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-four 
years.  Her  brother,  Lorenzo  Jones,  was  a 
brave  soldier  throughout  the  Texan  war. 
Six  children  blessed  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
and  ;\Irs.  Bennett,  and  the  brothers  of  our 
subject  are:  Captain  Henry  P.,  of  Mount 
Vernon ;  Murr}^  J.,  who'  died  in  Columbus, 
Ohio,  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years; 
and  J.  Burr,  who  died  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
in  1890,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  The 
first  named.  Captain  Henry  P.  Bennett, 
sen-ed  in  the  Mexican  war  as  a  member  of 
the  Second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  while 
during  the  Civil  war  he  was  first  lieutenant 
of  Company  B,  Ninety-sixth  Ohio'  Volun- 
teer Infantr>%  and  subsequently  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  captain  of  Company  A,  of  the 
same  regiment.  He  died  in  Mount  Vernon, 
November  2.  1901.  J.  B.  Bennett  was  a 
member  of  Company  E,  Twentieth  Ohio 
\^olunteer  Infantry,  during  that  memorable 
struggle.  The  daughters  of  the  family  were : 
Elizabeth,  who  married  J.  P.  Snook,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  now  deceased ;  and 
Eliza,  deceased.     She  became  the  wife  of  B. 


A.  F.  Greer,  of  Knox  county,  Ohio.  He 
also  offered  his  services  to  his  country  when 
the  trouble  arose  between  the  north  and  the 
south,  becoming  a  member  of  the  Twentieth 
Ohio  Infantry,  and  after  three  years  of 
faithful  service  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  colonel,  serving  in  a  regiment  in  Han- 
cock's Corps.  He  became  very  prominent 
in  the  public  life  of  this  county,  and  from 
1873  until  1875  served  as  probate  judge, 
and  was  also  a  prominent  attorney  of  Mount 
Vernon.  His  death  occurred  in  this  city  in 
1880,  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  passed  away  in  death 
m  October,  1880,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years, 
and  in  the  following  year  her  husband  joined 
her  in  the  spirit  world,  dying  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years. 

George  S.  Bennett,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Civil  war  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  be- 
coming a  member  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio  In- 
fantry%  Company  E,  with  Captain  George 
Rogers  in  command.  After  one  years'  ser- 
vice therein  he  was  made  a  member  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-second  Ohio  In- 
fantry, in  which  he  remained  until  hostilities 
had  ceased  and  the  country  no  longer  needed 
his  services.  After  his  army  career  was 
ended  Mr.  Bennett  took  up  the  study  of 
medicine  under  Dr.  Matthew  Thompson,  re- 
maining under  his  able  instruction  for  a 
time,  after  which  he  entered  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  Western  Reserve  College, 
of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1868.  After  leaving  that  institution 
he  followed  his  chosen  profession  at  Chester- 
ville.  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  for  three  years, 
and  then  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Mount 
Vernon,  since  which  time  he  has  been  en- 
easred  in  the  liverv  business.     He  has  met 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


with  success  in  this  Hne  of  trade,  and  his  is 
one  of  the  best  equipped  and  leading  barns 
of  the  city.  As  a  result  of  his  straightfor- 
ward dealing  and  close  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness he  is  now  enjoying  a  liberal  patronage, 
and  he  has  not  only  secured  a  handsome 
competence  but  has  materially  advanced  the 
interests  of  the  community  with  which  he  is 
associated. 

The  lady  who  now  bears  the  name  of 
Mrs.  Bennett  was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss 
Olive  Long.  Her  father,  Thomas  Long, 
was  a  resident  of  Mount  Vernon,  but  his 
death  occurred  many  years  ago.  The  family 
came  originally  from  Pennsylvania.  In  his 
social  relations  Mr.  Bennett  is  a  member  of 
Joe  Hooker  Post,  No.  21,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Mount 
Vernon,  in  which  he  maintains  pleasant  re- 
lations with  his  old  army  comrades  who 
wore  the  blue.  In  politics,  he  is  a  true  Re- 
publican. 


SYLVADORE    JACKSON. 

If  there  is  one  characteristic  that  stands 
out  more  strongly  than  others  in  the  history 
of  the  Jackson  family  it  is  that  of  loyalty — a 
loyalty  which  has  been  manifest  by  active 
service  in  the  different  important  wars  of  the 
country  and  by  absolute  fearlessness  in  the 
performance  of  duty.  Sylvadore  Jackson 
has  this  characteristic  of  his  ancestors  and  in 
his  life  record  there  is  much  that  indicates  a 
most  lofty  patriotism.  The  country  owes  to 
him  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  what  he  accom- 
plished in  its  behalf,  and  his  name  should  be 
placed  high  on  the  roll  of  those  whose  loyalty 
to  the  Union  in  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil 
war  resulted  in  active  and  beneficial  service. 

The    Jackson    family    was    founded    in 


America  in  1625  by  ancestors  who  came 
from  Scotland  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania. 
Joseph  Jackson,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  the  Keystone  state  in  1761, 
and  in  1775,  when  only  fourteen  years  of 
age,  ran  away  from  his  home — in  the  sub- 
urbs O'f  Philadelphia — in  order  to  enlist  in 
the  Continental  army.  He  served  through- 
out the  war,  giving  valiant  aid  to  the  cause 
of  freedom,  and  was  present  at  the  surrender 
of  Comwallis,  His  brothers,  James  and 
Isaac,  were  both  officers  in  the  American 
army,  one  serving  as  captain,  the  other  as 
lieutenant.  Joseph  Jackson,  many  years 
after  the  freedom  of  the  colonies  had  been 
won,  emigrated  westward,  taking  up  his 
abode  in  Newark  township,  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  in  1805.  There  he  spent  his  remain- 
ing days,  passing  away  in  1818,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-eight  years. 

His  son,  Joseph  Jackson,  Jr.,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  the  war  of  1S12  he  served  his 
country  as  a  member  of  a  Virginia  reg'iment. 
In  1 81 5  he  went  to  Licking  county,  taking 
up  his  abode  in  Newark  township,  where  he 
became  identified  with  industrial  interests. 
He  was  caught  in  a  fulling  mill  and  was  thus 
scalded  to  death  in  1837,  when  forty-three 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Jackson,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Mollie  Cummins,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Licking  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Cummins,  who  came  to  this  state 
from  Union  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Sylvadore  Jackson,  familiarly  known  as 
Saint  Jackson,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  born  in  Licking  county,  in  1832, 
and  there  was  reared  to  manhood,  pursuing  _ 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  work- 
ing at  baker's  and  confectioner's  trades  in 
his  vouth.    From  1856  until  1859  he  was  en- 


2l6 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


gaged  in  business  in  the  city  of  Newark,  but 
previous  to  this  time  he  had  rendered  effec- 
tive sen-ice  in  the  cause  of  freedom  in  Kan- 
sas. In  the  fall  of  1855  he  went  to  that  por- 
tion of  the  country,  and  was  allied  with  the 
"free  state"  men,  being  connected  with  the 
forces  of  Montgomery.  He  aided  in  driving 
out  the  border  men  and  was  twice  wounded 
in  one  night — the  night  he  rode  forty  miles 
to  assist  in  the  rescue  of  Lawrence.  In  1856 
he  visited  Omaha  and  Council  Bluffs  and  in 
twelve  days  walked  from  Council  Bluffs  to 
Iowa  City.  He  then  returned  home  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  Fremont  cam- 
paign, earnestly  championing  the  first  stand- 
ard bearer  of  the  new  Republican  party 
which  was  formed  to  prevent  the  further  ex- 
tension of  slavery.  While  in  Kansas  he  had 
known  and  acted  with  John  Brown. 

In  November,  1859,  Mr.  Jackson  came 
to  Mount  Vernon  and  established  a  bakery 
and  grocery,  which  he  conducted  for  two 
years.  He  then  disposed  of  his  business  and 
in  December,  1861,  went  to  the  south,  but 
was  taken  with  rheumatism  and  for  ten 
months  lay  in  the  hospital  at  Nashville  be- 
fore he  could  do  anything.  Unable  for  field 
service  he  soon  returned  to  the  north  where 
the  work  which  he  performed  for  the  govern- 
ment was  of  the  most  important  character. 
Prior  to  1863  several  provost  marshals  had 
been  appointed  for  Knox  county  but  had 
failed  to  keep  down  the  spirit  of  rebellion  by 
not  arresting  the  deserters  and  rebels.  At 
length  the  county  became  overrun  with  such 
men.  In  1863  Major  Hadley  spent  the  entire 
day  of  June  17th  in  the  streets  trying  to  find 
a  man  who  would  carry  dispatches  to  the 
commander  in  Holmes  county,  but  the  dan- 
ger of  such  a  mission,  owing  to  the  presence 


of  many  southern  sympathizers,  was  very 
great,  and  no  one  would  volunteer.  At 
length  the  Alajor  was  told  that  Mr.  Jackson 
would  carry  the  dispatches.  The  whole 
county  was  picketed  by  the  rebels,  but  Mr. 
Jackson  got  Major  Cooper  to  give  him  a  fic- 
titious warrant  for  a  horse  thief  and  he  start- 
ed. He  was  stopped  by  two  rebels  but  he 
told  them  he  was  after  a  horse  thief  and  that 
the  man  was  an  abolitionist,  so  they  let  him 
pass.  At  length  he  reached  his  destination 
and  delivered  the  messages  in  safety.  This 
was  reported  to  the  government  and  Mr. 
Jackson  was  immediately  reported  provost 
marshal  for  Knox  county,  in  which  capacity 
he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  ar- 
rested altogether  over  three  hundred  desert- 
ers in  this  county  and  its  borders,  and  no 
man  that  he  was  after  ever  got  away.  He 
was  here  and  heard  Valandingham  make  the 
speech  for  which  he  was  arrested  and  tried. 
He  also  went  on  special  duty  a  number  of 
times  to  Holmes  county,  which  was  the  hot- 
bed of  copperheads  in  this  state.  Seven 
times  he  was  shot  at  during  the  period  of  his 
service  as  provost  marshal  and  on  one  occa- 
sion while  arresting  a  deserter  in  Mount  Ver- 
non he  was  so  injured  that  he  eventually 
lost  the  sight  of  his  eyes.  For  thirty  years 
he  has  been  unable  to  recognize  any  one  and 
for  five  years  has  been  totally  blind.  Thus 
great  has  been  the  sacrifice  which  he  made 
for  his  country,  but  he  counted  not  the  cost 
when  engaged  in  the  performance  of  his 
duty.  He  never  wavered  or  faltered  no  mat- 
ter what  the  risks,  and  no  greater  bravery 
was  manifest  on  the  field  of  battle.  On  one 
occasion  three  men  lay  all  night  by  the  side 
of  the  road  where  they  expected  him  to  pass, 
intending  to  kill  him,  but  his  horse  wandered 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


217 


off  intoi  the  wrong  road  and  he  was  thereby 
saved.  In  1865-66  he  served  as  deputy 
sheriff. 

Mr.  Jackson  was  married  in  Licking 
county  to  Miss  Martha  Jane  Smith,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  A.  Smith,  a  native  O'f  Mary- 
land. He  served  in  the  war  of  1812  and 
soon  afterward  came  to  Licking  county, 
where  he  died  in  1883,  at  the  very  venerable 
age  of  ninety-two  years.  His  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Mitchell, 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  Her 
people  came  from  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  Ohio.  By  the  marriage  ol  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jackson  was  born  one  son,  Charles 
Ellsworth,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Cincin- 
nati College  of  Music  and  is  now  located  in 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  Such  in  brief  is 
the  history  of  one  of  Knox  county's  most 
honored  and  respected  citizens, — a  man  who 
in  every  relation  of  life  has  been  true  to  what 
he  believed  to  be  his  duty,  who  has  consci- 
entiously met  every  obligation  and  whose 
sterling  worth  of  character  has  gained  for 
him  many  warm  friends. 


FRANK  WATKINS. 

Frank  Watkins  is  numbered  among 
Ohio's  native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Steubenville  fifty-seven  years  ago,  his  pa- 
rents being  Edwin  and  Eliza  (Brown)  Wat- 
kins.  The  former  was  born  in  England,  but 
came  to  the  United  States  many  years  ago, 
and  died  in  Steubenville.  The  latter  was  a 
daughter  of  General  Harvey  Brown,  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  served  in  the  Civil  war 
as  a  brave  and  gallant  officer.  Both  the 
Watkins  and  Brown  families  were  of  Eng- 


lish lineage.  The  subject  of  this  review  is 
a  cousin  of  Williami  Dean  Howells,  the 
noted  American  writer  of  fiction,  whose  sto- 
ries, representing  the  highest  type  of  the 
realism  in  art,  have  found  favor  with  a 
broader  reading  public  than  those  of  any 
other  American  writer.  Mr.  Watkins  is  also 
an  uncle  of  Paul  and  Vaughn  Kester,  sons 
of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Hattie  Kester.  Both  gen- 
tlemen were  born  in  Mount  Vernon  and 
have  become  distinguished  in  literary  cir- 
cles. Paul  Kester  is  the  author  of  a  most  in- 
teresting work.  The  Life  of  the  Gypsies,  and 
also  dramatized  the  book  When  Knighthood 
Was  in  Flower.  He  also  wrote  the  play 
which  is  now  being  presented  by  Ada  Re- 
han,  Sweet  Nell  of  Old  Drury,  and  is  the 
author  of  several  plays  used  by  Salvini. 
Vaughn  Kester  has  recently  completed  and 
published  a  work  entitled,  The  Manager  of 
the  B.  &  O.,  which  promises  to  be  very  pop- 
ular. Both  brothers  attended  the  schools 
of  Alount  Vernon  and  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  Vaughn  Kester  is  now  in  the  office  of 
his  cousin,  William  Dean  Howells.  They 
now  reside  at  a  beautiful  home  on  the  Po- 
tomac, seven  miles  below  Washington  and 
in  the  literary  world  they  have  already  at- 
tained prominence  which  promises  to  be- 
come greater  as  the  years  pass  by. 

Mr.  Watkins,  of  this  review,  spent  his 
youthful  days  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio, 
and  was  educated  at  the  Delaware  College. 
About  1874  he  came  to  Mount  Vernon, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home  with  the 
exception  of  ten  years  passed  in  the  city  of 
Boston,  and  for  the  past  twenty-nine  j^ears 
he  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Tabor  Art 
Company,  which  is  now  located  at  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts.  He  was  married  here 
in  1876  to  Miss  Mary  Blackstone  Banning, 


21.8 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


youngest  daughter  of  James  S.  Banning, 
and  a  grand-daughter  of  the  Rev.  Anthony 
Banning,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  citi- 
zens of  Knox  county  at  an  early  day.  He 
became  identified  with  the  pioneer  develop- 
ment of  the  state  and  was  not  only  promi- 
nent in  business  but  left  the  impress  of  his 
strong  individuality  for  good  upon  the  pub- 
lic policy  of  the  district  and  had  marked 
influence  in  shaping  public  thought  and  ac- 
tion. The  Bannings  have  also  been  leaders 
in  the  social  life  of  Mount  Vernon  from  the 
earliest  days  and  Mrs.  Eliza  (Blackstone) 
Banning,  the  mother  of  ]\Irs.  \\'atkins,  did 
much  toward  raising  the  standard  of  culture 
and  refinement  when  in  her  early  married 
life  she  came  to  Knox  county,  which  was 
then  just  emerging  from  frontier  conditions. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watkins  have  one  daughter, 
Lila.  They  are  widely  known  in  Knox 
county  and  the  circle  of  their  friends  is  al- 
most coextensive  with  the  circle  of  their  ac- 
quaintance. Mr.  Watkins  gives  his  political 
support  to  the  Republican  party. 


GEORGE  E.  CANNING. 

In  a  review  of  a  list  of  those  who  are 
occupying  public  positions  of  trust  in  ]\Iount 
Vernon  appears  the  name  of  George  E. 
Canning,  who  is  administering  the  business 
of  the  post  office  in  the  same  straightfor- 
ward and  energetic  manner  that  rendered 
him  a  prominent  factor  in  commercial  circles 
in  this  city  for  fifteen  years.  He  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  by  President  McKinley 
in  1898  and  through  the  intervening  period 
he  has  won  high  encomiums  from  the  public 
for  his  reliability  and  efiiciencv. 


]\Iount  Vernon  is  ]\Ir.  Canning's  native 
city  and  to  its  public  school  system  he  is  in- 
debted for  the  educational  privileges  which 
he  enjoyed.  His  father,  William  Canning, 
a  native  of  England,  is  still  residing  in 
Mount  Vernon  and  for  many  years  was  en- 
gaged in  wheat  buying,  acting  as  general 
manager  for  the  Norton  Mills,  but  now  he 
is  living  retired  from  business  cares.  He 
married  Rebecca  Stinchcomb,  a  native  of 
JMaryland,  and  a  daughter  of  Enoch  Stinch- 
comb, who  formerly  resided  in  Pike  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  but  is  now  deceased. 

In  his  parents'  home  Mr.  Canning,  of  this 
review,  spent  his  childhood  days,  and  after 
arriving  at  man's  estate  embarked  in  the 
meat  market  business  in  Mount  Vernon, 
conducting  his  store  for  fifteen  years,  during 
which  time  he  enjoyed  a  good  trade.  He 
became  well  known  as  a  reliable  and  trust- 
worthy citizen  and  therefore  received  the 
endorsement  of  the  majority  of  his  fellow 
townsmen  when  he  was  spoken  of  for  post- 
master. The  appointment  came  in  1898, 
and  in  discharging  the  duties  of  the  ofiice  he 
has  displayed  the  same  energetic  business 
like  methods  that  characterized  his  conduct 
of  his  store. 

Mr.  Canning  was  married  in  Mount 
Vernon  to  Miss  Lulu  Maude  Gordon,  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  ai  the  pioneer  families  of 
the  county.  Her  grandfather,  Silas  Gordon, 
resided  in  Wayne  township  and  was  an  ac- 
tive and  influential  citizen,  well  known 
throughout  this  portion  of  the  state.  Her 
father.  Dr.  J.  C.  Gordon,  was  a  physician 
who  located  in  IMount  Vernon  after  the 
Civil  war  and  practiced  here  for  a  number  of 
years,  but  is  now  deceased.  The  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Canning  has  been  blessed 
with  one  son,  George  Edward.    Our  subject 


OF    KXOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


219 


has  always  been  a  stalwart  Republican  in 
politics  and,  keeping  well  informed  on  the 
issues  of  the  day,  is  able  to  support  his  posi- 
tion by  intelligent  argument.  For  several 
years  he  has  served  on  the  Republican  county 
executive  committee,  and  his  efforts  have 
contributed  largely  to  his  party's  advance- 
ment. He  has  been  identified  with  the  mili- 
tary interests  of  the  state,  having,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years,  become  a  member  of 
Company  C,  Seventeenth  Regiment  of  Ohio 
National  Guard,  in  which  he  served  as  sec- 
ond lieutenant  for  ten  months,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  was  elected  captain,  act- 
ing in  that  capacity  until  1886,  when  he  re- 
signed. He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias fraternity,  of  which  he  is  a  past  chancel- 
lor and  for  several  years  was  captain  of  the 
Uniformed  Rank.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
jVIasonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  attained 
to  the  rank  of  Knight  Templar.  His  up- 
right manhood,  loyal  citizenship  and  genial 
nature  render  him  a  popular  and  valued  res- 
ident of  his  native  citv. 


HON.  PATRICIv  A.  BERRY. 

Hon.  Patrick  Austin  Berry,  who  is  now 
representing"  Knox  county  for  the  second 
time  in  the  state  legislature  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  influential  young  men  of  this  part  of 
the  state,  being  a  recognized  leader  in  poli- 
tical circles  as  well  as  in  professioiral  ranks, 
for  he  is  a  well  known  and  capable  mem- 
ber of  the  bar.  He  was  born  in  Howard 
township,  this  county,  December  23,  1869, 
and  on  the  parental  side  is  of  Irish  lineage. 
His  grandfather,  James  Berry,  was  born  in 
county  Tipperary,  Ireland,  and  on  coming 


to  America  located  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio. 
There  he  was  married  to  Lucy  Harding, 
whose  people  were  closely  connected  with 
the  Masons  of  the  Old  Dominion.  John 
Berry,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  St.  Clairsville,  Belmont  county,  Oct.  11, 
1824,  but  came  with  'his  parents  to  Knox 
county  in  1836,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
"home.  He  has  been  prominent  in  township 
affairs,  serving  as  trustee  and  in  other  local 
offices,  and  wherever  he  is  known  commands 
the  respect  and  confidence  he  so  richly  mer- 
its. He  wedded  Mary  A.  Critchfield,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Cle- 
ments) Critchfield.  Her  father  came  to  this 
county  in  pioneer  days  and  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Howard  township.  His 
father,  William  Critchfield,  was  one  of  the 
very  early  pioneers  who  emigrated  to  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  from'  Maryland. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  Pat- 
rick A.  Berry  we  present  to  our  readers  the 
life  record  of  one  who  is  well  known  in 
this  portion  of  Ohio,  for  he  has  always  lived 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  this  locality 
and  his  worth  is  widely  recognized.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  county,  in  the  Danville  Normal  Acad- 
emy, in  Bethany  College,  West  Virginia,  and 
in  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Ar- 
bor, graduating  from  the  latter  institution 
in  June,  1892,  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B. 
Immediately  after  graduating  he  took  up  the 
practice  of  the  law  in  Atlanta,  Georgia,  but 
at  the  end  of  five  years,  on  account  of  the  cli- 
mate, was  compelled  to  abandon  practice 
there.  Returning  to  his  old  home,  he  took  up 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Mount  Ver- 
non where  he  has  practiced  continually  since. 

Mr.  Berry  was  united  in  marriage  Au- 
gust 17,  1899,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Kirk  Cam- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


eron,  a  daughter  of  Robert  M.  and  Rachel 
(Mayers)  Cameron,  of  Millersburg,  Holmes 
county,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berry  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Christian  church,  and  socially 
he  is  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  Masonic  fraternity.  His  political  support 
is  unwaveringly  given  the  Democracy,  and 
on  its  ticket  he  was  elected  to  represent  Knox 
county  in  the  state  legislature  in  1899,  and 
re-elected  in  1901,  although  the  county  us- 
ually give  a  Republican  majority.  His  elec- 
tion was  therefore  a  proof  of  his  personal 
popularity  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him 
by  his  fellow  citizens,  and  neither  was  this 
confidence  abused,  for  his  course  in  the 
house  was  marked  by  conscientious  fidelity 
to  whatever  he  believed  to  be  beneficial 
measures  for  the  general  welfare.  At  the 
bar  he  is  continually  giving  evidence  of  in- 
creased power  and  ability  as  experience  and 
study  add  to  his  knowledge  and  he  imdoubt- 
edly  has  a  very  successful  future  before  him. 


WILLIAM  E.  GRANT. 

Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1888  ^^'illiam  E. 
Grant  has  since  been  a  member  of  the  legal 
fraternity  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  by  merit 
and  determination  has  arisen  to  an  enviable 
position  among  the  members  of  his  profes- 
sion in  Knox  county.  He  was  born  in  the  city 
wliich  is  still  his  home,  his  natal  day  being 
in  1862.  The  family  is  of  Scotch  lineage 
and  was  early  founded  in  New  England. 
Peters  Grant,  his  great-great-grandfather, 
was  captain  of  a  company  of  the  Connecti- 
cut militia  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and 
with  patriotic  valor  aided  in  overthrowing 
British  supremacy  on  this  continent.     The 


grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Isaac 
Grant  and  his  father,  Benjamin  Grant.  The 
latter  was  born  in  Vermont  and  with  a  hope 
of  bettering  his  financial  condition  in  the 
west  he  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1854,  taking 
up  his  abode  in  Mount  Vernon,  where  he  es- 
tablished a  dry-goods  store.  In  i860  he  was 
appointed  revenue  assessor  for  this  district 
and  for  fifteen  years  he  was  deputy  collector 
of  internal  revenue,  resigning  that  position 
in  1875.  He  was  very  active  in  Republi- 
can circles  and  his  long  continuance  in  office 
indicated  unmistakably  his  capable  and  effi- 
cient service.  His  death  occurred  in  1894, 
when  he  had  attained  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years.  He  married  Elizabeth  Ann  Willey, 
of  Lancaster,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  William 
Willey,  an  early  resident  of  that  portion  of 
the  state.  Our  subject  is  now  the  only  rep- 
resentative of  the  Grant  family  in  the  male 
line.  His  brother,  Charles  H.  Grant,  died 
in  Mount  Vernon,  January  i,  1898,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-one  years.  He  had  completed 
his  education  in  Kenyon  College  and  for 
several  years  was  engaged  in  the  men's  furn- 
ishings business,  while  for  three  years  prior 
to  his  death  he  was  the  city  editor  of  the 
Mount  Vernon  Republican.  There  is  one 
living  sister,  Miss  Ella  Grant,  a  resident  of 
this  city. 

At  the  usual  age  William  E.  Grant  en- 
tered the  public  schools  of  his  native  city 
and  later  continued  his  studies  in  tiie  Kenyon 
Military  Academy  and  Kenyon  College.  He 
then  began  prepartion  for  the  bar  in  the 
office  of  Hon.  H.  H.  Greer  and  in  1888  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  Immediately  after- 
ward he  opened  his  office  in  his  native  city, 
and  his  career  sets  at  naught  the  old  adage 
that  a  prophet  is  never  without  honor  save 
in  his  own  countrv,  for  in  his  native  citv. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


where  he  is  so  well  known,  he  has  continual- 
ly advanced,  industriously  pursuing  a  prac- 
tice which  is  yearly  increasing  in  volume  and 
importance. 

Mr.  Grant  is  quite  prominent  in  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  being  identilied  with  its 
various  bodies  and  with  the  Mystic  Shrine. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias. A  social,  genial  manner  has  made 
him  popular  and  his  circle  of  friends  is  al- 
most co-extensive  with  the  circle  of  his  ac- 
quaintances. 


WALTER  H.  AND  GEORGE  E.  THAYER 

The  name  of  Thayer  has  long  been  as- 
sociated with  the  history  of  the  promotion  of 
industrial  interests  in  Mount  Vernon,  and 
the  brothers  are  now  actively  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  on  Sandusky  street.  They 
are  native  sons  of  this  city,  and  during  their 
long  residence  in  this  locality  they  have  won 
and  retained  the  friendship  of  all  with  whom 
they  have  had  business  or  social  intercourse. 
Their  father,  Alford  Thayer,  came  to  the 
Buckeye  state  from  Lowell,  Massachusetts, 
and  during  the  Civil  war  he  nobly  served  his 
country  as  a  defender  of  the  stars  and 
stripes. 

For  the  past  two  and  a  half  years  the 
Thayer  Brothers  have  been  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  in  Mount  Vernon,  and  they 
now  have  six  wagons  upon  the  road  engaged 
in  gathering  produce  among  the  farmers  of 
the  surrounding  country.  They  carry  a  large 
and  complete  line  of  fancy  and  staple  grocer- 
ies, and  the  firm  are  progressive  and  enter- 
prising men  who  well  merit  the  success 
which  crown  their  efforts.     Before  entering 


the  grocery  trade,  however,  the  brothers 
were  anployed  as  barbers  for  thirteen  years. 
Walter  H.  Thayer  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Nellie  Stanton,  a  daughter  of 
James  B.  Stanton,  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Stanton,  West  Virginia.  The  youngest 
brother,  George  E.,  chose  Miss  Casey 
Pierce  as  a  life  companion.  She  is  a  native 
of  Washington  county,  Ohio.  The  brothers 
are  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
from  1895  until  1897  Walter  H.  Thayer  was 
a  member  of  the  city  council.  In  his  social 
relations  he  is  a  member  of  the  Uniformed 
Rank  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity, 
while  his  brother  is  identified  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  The  Thay- 
er Brothers  are  indeed  successful  business 
men,  whose  resolute  purpose  and  determina- 
tion have  enabled  them  to;  overcome  many 
obstacles  and  work  their  way  steadily  up- 
ward to  success,  and  as  a  result  of  their  well 
directed  labors  and  straightforward  business 
methods  they  are  now  enjoying  a  large  and 
lucrative  patronage. 


JOHN   KIRK  BAXTER. 

John  Kirk  Baxter,  superintendent  of  the 
Mount  Vernon  schools,  is  a  native  of  West 
Liberty,  Muscatine  county,  Iowa,  a  son  of 
William  A.  Baxter,  a  native  of  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio.  The  latter  owned  and  oper- 
ated mills  at  East  Rochester,  at  West  Lib- 
erty, Iowa,  and  in  many  other  places.  His 
death  occurred  in  1889,  when  he  had  reach- 
ed the  fifty-ninth  milestone  on  the  journey 
of  life.  His  father,  Harvey  Baxter,  was  a 
native  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  latter's  father  came  to  this 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


country  from  the  Emerald  Isle.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Hannah  Ball  and  was  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Mary  (Baum)  Ball,  formerly  of  Colum- 
biana county,  Ohio.  They  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Iowa,  and  there  they  passed  to 
their  final  rest.  The  father  was  a  very  prom- 
inent man  in  Muscatine  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  served  as  postmaster  and  also  held  other 
positions  of  honor  and  trust. 

John  Kirk  Baxter,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view, was  taken  to  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  when  a  child,  but  afterward  removed 
to  Trumbull  county,  and  next  took  up  his 
abode  in  Carroll  county.  At  the  early  age 
of  sixteen  years  he  took  up  the  profession  of 
teaching,  which  he  followed  in  the  common 
schools  of  Carroll  county  and  in  the  gram- 
mar schools  of  Malvern,  that  county,  having 
also  for  five  years  served  as  superintendent 
of  schools  at  the  latter  city.  He  subsequent- 
ly became  a  student  in  Hiram  College,  grad- 
uating in  that  institution  with  the  class  of 
1890,  and  from'  that  year  until  1898  he 
served  as  principal  of  the  high  school  of 
Mount  Vernon.  During  his  incumbency  the 
school  grew  in  attendance  from  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  pupils,  with  three  teachers, 
to  two  hundred  and  fifty  pupils,  with  seven 
teachers.  A  new  building  has  also  been 
erected,  which  is  used  exclusively  f.or  high 
school  purposes  and  contains  ten  rooms.  It 
also  contains  an  auditorium,  which  has  a 
seating  capacity  for  seven  hundred  persons. 
In  1898  Mr.  Baxter  was  appointed  to  the 
responsible  position  of  superintendent  of 
the  Mount  Vernon  schools,  succeeding  the 
Hon.  L.  D.  Bonebrake,  who  filled  the  posi- 
tion for  nine  years  and  is  now  state  commis- 
sioner of  schools.  Mr.  Baxter  has  devoted 
m.any  years  of  his  life  to  the  task  of  instruct- 


ing the  young  along  lines  of  mental  advance- 
ment, and  in  the  line  of  his  chosen  profes- 
sion he  has  met  with  a  high  and  well  merited 
degree  of  success.  He  now  has  under  his 
immediate  supervision  seven  school  build- 
ings, containing  one  thousand  four  hundred 
and  fifty  pupils  and  thirty-two  teachers. 

The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs. 
Baxter  was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Jose- 
phine Ross,  of  Malvern,  Carroll  county,, 
Ohio.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  I.  Ross, 
a  member  of  a  prominent  and  honored  pio- 
neer family  of  that  locality  who  have  resided 
here  for  two  or  three  generations.  Mr.  Ross 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  local  affairs  of 
his  community,  and  was  recognized  as  a  wor- 
thy and  representative  citizen.  In  his  social 
relations  Mr.  Baxter  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic and  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternities, 
and  religiously  he  holds  membership  in  the 
Christian  church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as 
an  elder  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  official 
board. 


EDWARD  CONWAY  BEGGS,  D.  D.  S. 

Dr.  Edward  Conway  Beggs,  the  leading 
dentist  of  Mount  Vernon,  is  a  native  son  of 
the  Buckeye  state,  his  birth  occurring  in  Gal- 
lia county.  His  father,  George  W.  Beggs, 
also  a  native  of  that  county,  was  promi- 
nently engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  in 
Gallipolis,  Ohio,  and  in  Charleston,  West 
Virginia.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  and  during 
the  Civil  war  he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Thirty-sixth  Ohio  Regiment,  in  which  he 
rendered  efficient  service  to  the  Union  army. 
His  father,  James  Beggs,  was  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  Gallia  county,   Ohio,   re- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


223 


moving  to  that  place  from  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Taphena  McAIillen  and  was 
a  native  of  Gallia  county,  her  father,  Ed  T. 
McMillen,  also  claiming  that  county  as  the 
place  of  his  nativity.  He  served  as  the  first 
sheriff  of  the  county  and  also  held  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace.  The  McMillens  or- 
iginally came  from  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
maternal  grandmother  of  our  subject,  Laura 
Holcomb,  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  lead- 
ing eastern  families  of  Gallia  county.  The 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject.  General 
Ansel  T.  Holcomb,  was  a  paymaster  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  was  one  of  the  early 
abolitionists  of  Gallia  county,  Ohio.  Our 
subject  now  has  three  brothers,  namely : 
Frank  Leslie,  a  chemist  of  Newark,  Ohio; 
Qiarles  T.,  a  prominent  salesman  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania,  and  W.  J.,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  business  in  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  in  company  with  Hon.  William 
Hahn,  of  Mansfield,  and  Colonel  Fletcher, 
of  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Dr.  Beggs,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
review,  received  his  professional  training  in 
the  Ohio  College  of  Dental  Surgery,  at  Cin- 
cinnati, In  1891  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
practice  for  three  years,  on  the  expiration  of 
which  period  he  came  to  Mount  Vernon, 
where  he  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative 
patronage,  his  patrons  coming  to  him  from 
all  parts  of  the  state.  As  a  companion  on 
the  journey  of  life  he  chose  Miss  Martha 
Niewvahner,  of  Jackson  county,  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  H.  Niewvahner,  who  came  to 
this  country  from  Germany.  One  child  has 
blessed  this  union,  Mary  Taphena.  Dr. 
Beggs  is  a  prominent  and  active  member  o.f 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in  his  social 


relations  he  is  a  member  of  nearly  all  the 
bodies  of  the  Masonic  order,  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  of  the  Maccabees.  He  is 
nO'W  serving  as  recorder  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  fraternity.  The  Doctor  occupies  a 
high  position  in  the  ranks  of  the  dental  fra- 
ternity, and  is  also  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leading  and  influential  citizens  of  Knox 
county. 


WILLIAAI  L.  BOTTEXFIELD. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  well- 
known  farmer  of  Milford  township,  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  whose  skill  and  ability  in  his 
chosen  calling  are  plainly  manifest  in  the 
well  tilled  fields  and  neat  and  thrifty  appear- 
ance of  his  place.  He  was  born  in  Greene 
county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  2d  of  May, 
1839.  His  grandfather,  John  Bottenfield, 
was  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  of  Ger- 
man descent.  He  subsequently  left  the  state 
of  his  nativity  and  removed  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  Greene  county,  that  state,  his  son, 
John  Bottenfield,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born.  In  October,  1839,  the  latter 
came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  locating  in  Mil- 
ford  township,  where  he  passed  away  in 
death  in  his  seventy-third  year.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  cooper  by  trade,  and  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  his  political  views,  having  on  its 
ticket  been  elected  to  many  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility.  For  his  wife  he 
chose  Mary  Woodruft',  a  native  also  of  New 
Jersey,  and  she,  too,  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania.  Her  death 
occurred  when  she  had  reached  the  seventy- 
fourth  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life.  Her 
father,  Abial  Woodruff,  of  English  ancestry, 
claimed  New  Jersey  as  the  state  of  his  nativ- 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


ity,  living  near  Newark,  but  in  an  early  day 
he  located  near  Zollarsville,  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania. 

William  L.  Bottenfield,  the  youngest  of 
ten  children  in  his  parents'  family,  was  but 
six  months  old  when  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Knox  county,  and  the  educational 
advantages  which  he  enjoyed  in  his  youth 
were  those  afforded  by  the  district  schools 
of  Milford  township.  During  his  early  years 
he  assisted  his  father  with  the  labors  of  the 
farm,  and  he  continued  to  care  for  his  par- 
ents during  their  declining  years.  After  his 
marriage  he  purchased  and  removed  to  the 
farm  which  he  yet  owns,  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  rich  and  excellent 
land,  and  there  he  is  successfully  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising.  In  addition  to 
this  valuable  homestead  he  also  owns  resi- 
dence property  in  Newark,  Ohio. 

September  ii,  1872,  in  Milford  town- 
ship, occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Botten- 
field and  Miss  Clamana  L.  Stevens,  a  native 
of  this  township,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Emeline  (Terrell)  Stevens.  Her  father 
came  from  Vermont  to  the  Buckeye  state, 
after  his  marriage,  locating  in  Milford  town- 
ship. The  mother  was  born  in  Milford 
township,  her  parents  being  Curtis  and 
Phebe  (Knowles)  Terrell,  who  in  18 16, 
came  from  Milford,  Connecticut,  and  was 
the  second  family  to  become  permanent  resi- 
dents of  this  Milford  township,  which  was 
named  injionor  of  their  old  eastern  home. 
Their  old  homestead  is  still  owned  by  a  sister 
of  Mrs.  Bottenfield,  Linda  M.  Higgins.  One 
son  has  blessed  the  marriage  of  our  subject 
and  wife,  Lee  M.,  who  is  at  home,  assisting 
in  the  operation  of  the  farm.  The  Democ- 
racy receives  Mr.  Bottenfield's  hearty  sup- 
port and  co-operation,  and  on  its  ticket  in 


1893  he  was  nominated  for  the  position  of 
county  commissioner,  and,  although  he  re- 
ceived the  highest  number  of  votes  of  any 
man  on  the  ticket,  he  was  defeated  with  the 
entire  ticket.  He  has  held  the  position  of 
treasurer  of  his  township,  and  in  the  locality 
in  which  he  has  spent  nearly  his  entire  life 
he  is  honored  and  respected  by  all  who  have 
had  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  Active 
in  all  that  advances  the  interest  of  the  farm 
he  served  for  years  as  a  director  and  as  vice- 
president  and  president  of  the  Hartford 
Agricultural  Society. 


LEWIS  BRITTON. 


Lewis  Britton,  who  for  many  years  was 
one  of  the  leading  and  representative  agri- 
culturists of  Howard  township,  Knox  coun- 
ty, passed  away  in  death  on  the  28th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1901.  He  was  the  first  white  child 
born  in  Millwood,  his  natal  day  being  Jan- 
uary 29,  1828.  His  father,  James  Britton, 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  but  when  a 
child  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Knox 
county  and  was  reared  in  Amity.  His  fath- 
er, Samuel  Britton,  was  also  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  but  became  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  this  county.  He  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade  and  was  said  to  have  been 
a  most  excellent  workman.  The  son,  James, 
spent  his  youth  and  early  manhood  under 
the  parental  roof,  often  accompanying  his 
father  to  mill,  to  which  they  were  obliged 
to  journey  on  horseback  a  distance  of  twen- 
ty-five miles.  After  his  marriage  he  lo- 
cated at  Millwood,  Knox  county,  having 
erected  the  first  house  in  the  village.  This 
was  a  hewed  log  structure  and  is  still  stand- 


LEWIS  BRITTON. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


225 


ing,  although  it  has  been  considerably  trans- 
formed. He  also  became  a  blacksmith,  fol- 
lowing that  occupation  for  many  years,  but 
about  1850  he  removed  to  Iowa,  locating 
on  a  farm  in  Johnson  county,  not  far  from 
Iowa  City,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  was  an 
active  worker  and  an  officer.  His  political 
faith  was  exemplified  by  the  principles  of 
the  Whig  and  the  Republican  parties. 

Mr.  Britton's  first  wife  and  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  Hannah  Porter,  was  a  na- 
ti\-e  of  Pennsylvania,  but  was  brought  by 
her  parents  when  a  child  to  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  where  she  died  in  1844.  Mr.  Brit- 
ton  was  again  married  in  this  county,  and 
after  his  removal  to  Iowa  he  was  twice  mar- 
ried, and  children  were  born  of  each  union 
with  the  exception  of  the  last,  there  being 
eight  to  attain  mature  years. 

Lewis  Britton,  the  eldest,  was  reared  to 
years  of  maturity  in  Millwood,  the  place  of 
his  nativity,  receiving  his  mental  discipline 
in  the  old  log  school  house  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. When  yet  a  boy  he  began  to  work 
at  the  blacksmith's  trade,  but  in  his  seven- 
teenth-year opened  a  grocery  store  in  Mill- 
wood, which  he  conducted  for  about  two 
years.  During  the  following  year,  in  part- 
nership with  Dillen  Brook,  he  conducted  the 
"Tavern''  and  was  then  employed  in  the 
general  store  of  William  Dillen,  at  Mill- 
wood, removing  the  stock  for  his  employer 
to  Marengo,  Iowa,  where  he  sold  it  to  the 
Indians.  After  one  year  spent  in  that  state, 
however,  he  returned  to  Millwood  and 
clerked  in  the  general  store  O'f  George  Shaw 
for  a  year  and  for  four  years  in  that  of 
Jonathan   Hammond.      He   then   purchased 


the  business  of  Mr.  Hammond  and  was  en- 
gaged in  its  conducti  for  several  years,  a 
part  of  the  time  having  Christian  Peterman 
as  a  partner.  During  those  years  Millwood 
was  the  principal  trading  point  in  Knox 
county,  draw'ing  a  large  trade  from  an  ex- 
tensive territory.  Under  the  administration 
of  President  Buchanan  the  postoffice  was 
established  there  and  Mr.  Britton  was  the 
first  incumbent  O'f  the  office.  For  some  years 
also  he  was  a  partner  with  George  B.  Pot- 
w^in  in  selling  goods  at  Mount  Vernon,  while 
the  venerable  John  Pouting,  now^  retired, 
was  his  associate  and  business  partner  over 
an  extended  period.  Probably  no  man  had 
a  more  extended  business  acquaintance  in 
Knox  and  the  surrounding  counties  than 
Mr.  Britton,  and  certainly  no  man  held 
more  exalted  ideas  of  business  honesty  and 
probity,  his  every  transaction  having  been 
characterized  by  open  frankness  and  can- 
dor. In  the  midst  of  a  wide  and  remunera- 
tive commercial  activity  the  death  of  his 
father-in-laAv  demanded  that  personal  at- 
tention be  given  to  the  operation  of  his  es- 
tate, Mr.  Britton  yielding  to  the  demands  to 
the  extent  of  removing,  in  1862,  to  the  farm 
in  Howard  township,  where  the  remainder 
of  his  life  was  passed.  For  thirty-five  years 
his  attention  was  more  especially  given  to 
agriculture,  in  which  he  soon  became  as 
much  interested  and  of  which  he  made  as 
great  a  success  as  he  had  done  in  merchan- 
dising. 

During  all  this  time  he  was  constantly 
being  urged  to  accept  some  local  office,  the 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  all,  regard- 
less of  party  affiliation,  being  unbounded, 
and  he  often  served  as  trustee,  treasurer  or 
assessor,  discharging  all  public  duties  with 
that  fidelitv  and  exactness  demanded  bv  his 


226 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


private  business.  While  yet  in  his  minor- 
ity he  was  defeated  for  coroner  of  the  coun- 
ty by  but  a  small  majority-,  and  in  1868  was 
the  Democratic  nominee  for  auditor,  lacking 
but  thirty-seven  votes  at  a  time  when  the 
county  was  considered-  largely  Republican. 
In  1876  he  was  chosen  treasurer  of  the 
county,  residing  in  Mount  Vernon  during 
his  incumbency  of  that  position,  to  the  du- 
ties of  which  he  brought  a  clear  mind,  thor- 
oughly trained  through  a  long  career  of  suc- 
cessful private  business,  his  conduct  of  the 
office  reflecting  credit  upon  himself  and 
bringing  honor  to  the  county.  While  thor- 
oughly imbued  with  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  an  influential  mem- 
ber of  the  party,  many  of  his  warmest 
friends  were  found  among  the  Republicans, 
who  recognized  in  him  a  man  of  sterling 
character  and  undoubted  honesty  of  pur- 
pose. While  his  later  years  were  passed 
upon  the  farm,  he  ever  kept  in  close  touch 
with  the  public  life  of  the  county,  seldom 
a  week  passing  that  did  not  see  him  mingling 
among  his  old  friends  and  associates  in 
Mount  Vernon.  His  interest  in  the  public 
welfare!  never  flagged,  he  ever  bemg  an 
advocate  of  every  measure  intended  tO'  pro- 
mote the  progress  of  the  community.  His 
"homestead  consists  of  one  hundred  and  sev- 
ent}--five  acres  of  rich  and  productive  mnd, 
the  well  cultivated  fields  annually  returning 
rich  harvests,  while  the  buildings  which 
adorn  the  place  are  among  the  most  desira- 
ble in  the  locality. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Britton  was  cele- 
brated on  the  i2th  of  March,  1855,  when 
Miss  Elizabeth  Critchfield  became  his  wife. 
She  was  born  on  the  19th  of  October,  1834, 
a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Barkus) 
Critchfield,  who  were  among  the  early  pi- 


oneers of  Howard  township,-  Knox-  county, 
their  old  homestead  being  the  present  Brit- 
ton farm.  Here  she  was  reared  to  woman- 
hood and  here  her  parents  lived  and  died, 
Isaac  Critchfield  on  the  15th  of  March, 
1862,  and  Sarah,  January  7,  1872.  They 
were  among  the  highly  respected  citizens  of 
Howard  township,  contributing  in  many 
ways  to  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
county  as  well  as  to  the  temporal,  moral  and 
spiritual  welfare  of  neighbors  and  friends. 
Five  children  were  born  to  them,  Elizabeth 
being  the  youngest.  Her  two  brothers,  Ba- 
sil and  Nelson,  are  deceased,  while  Melinda 
is  the  wife  of  Vincent  Miller  and  Mahala  is 
the  wife_  of  Noah  Boynton.  The  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Britton  was  blessed  with  four 
children  who  reached  mature  years,  two 
sons  and  two  daughter,  namely:  LeGrand, 
at  home;  Samuel  H.  Britton,  M.  D.,  who 
graduated  with  honors  at  Kenyon  College 
and  is  now  a  prominent  physician  of  Marion, 
Ohio;  Eva  L.,  the  wife  of  James  M.  Berry, 
of  Howard;  and  Nannie  Alice,  the  wife  of 
Columbusi  D.  McCullough,  identified  with 
the  commercial  interests  of  Mount  Vernon. 
April  17,  1897,  after  traveling  hand  in  hand 
for  more  than  forty  years  Mr.  Britton  was 
called  upon  to  part  with  the  companionship 
of  her  whose  wholesome  advice  and  sound 
judgment  often  proved  a  true  support,  and 
from  that  time  his  interest  in  temporal  af- 
fairs seemed  to  yield  to  the  longings  for  that 
final  rest  and  consolation  thai  would  come 
when  he  was  once  more  united  for  eternity 
with  her  whose  love  and  devotion  to  him 
and  his  children  had  so  much  to  do  in  shap- 
ing- his  own  course.  Typhoid  fever  laid  its 
burning  and  devastating  hand  upon  him, 
only  to  end  in  freeing  the  soul  from  its 
earthly  body,  the  last  hour  coming  on  the 


OFJKNOX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


227 


28th  of  September,  1901,  after  upwards  of 
a  month's  distress.  On  Tuesday,  the  ist 
of  October,  his  body  was  followed  by  a  large 
concourse  of  friends  and  laid  in  the  Valley 
church  cemetery  beside  her  whose  love  had 
sustained  him  in  many  an  hour  of  trial.  In 
his  social  relations  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor.  In  all  positions  which 
he  was  called  upon  to  fill  he  was  highly  suc- 
cessful ;  as  a  business  man  he  was  upright, 
reliable  and  honorable;  in  all  places  and  un- 
der all  circumstances  he  was  loyal  to  truth, 
honor  and  right ;  and  in  those  finer  traits  of 
character  which  attract  and  endear  man  to 
man  in  ties  of  friendship  he  was  royally  en- 
dowed. Few  men  had  more  devoted  friends 
than  he  and  none  excelled  him  in  unselfish 
devotion  and  unswerving  fidelity  to  the 
worthy  recipients  of  his  confidence  and 
friendship. 

LeGrand  Britton  was  born  at  Millwood 
Augxist  28,  1856,  and  from  the  age  of  six 
was  reared  on  the  present  home  farm,  re- 
ceiving such  education  as  the  country  and 
village  schools  afforded.  His  marriage  oc- 
curred August  24,  1876,  when  he  had  just 
passed  his  twentieth  year,  to  Miss  Ella 
Critchfield,  a  daughter  of  Harris  and  Sarah 
(McCarty)  Critchfield.  In  1890  Mr.  Brit- 
ton became  a  partner  with  George  W.  Mc- 
Nabb  in  a  general  store  at  Howard,  remov- 
ing after  two  years  to  Adelaide,  Marion 
county,  where  for  five  years  he  conducted 
the  only  store.  Suffering  a  serious  loss  by 
the  destruction  of  his  store  and  stock  by 
fire,  he  returned  to  assume  the  management 
of  the  homestead  for  his  father,  and  from 
that  time  his  attention  has  been  \yholly  cen- 
tered upon  the  requirements  of  such  an  es- 
tate. Like  his  father  he  early  became  identi- 
fied with  political  work,  being  elected  as  a 


trustee  when  quite  young,  a  position  in 
which  he  was  retained  for  thirteen  years,  re- 
signing only  when  he  removed  from  the 
county.  He  was  chosen  postmaster,  under 
Qeveland's  administration,  at  Adelaide, 
where  he  also  served  as  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  being  the  only  Democrat  placed  in 
office  in  that  township.  In  1881  he  was  de- 
feated for  infirmary  director  by  a  small  ma- 
jority by  his  old  teacher  and  life-long 
friend.  He  was  chosen  by  the  court  as  the 
Democratic  member  of  the  committee  to  ex- 
amine the  annual  report  of  the  county  com- 
missioners for  1 90 1,  and  was  later  named 
for  a  similar  place  to  examine  the  report  of 
the  county  treasurer.  He  is  generally  se- 
lected as  a  delegate  to  the  various  conven- 
tions of  his  party,  in  the  work  of  which  he  is 
an  important  factor,  few  men  in  Knox  coun- 
ty having  a  wider  acquaintance  with  public 
men  or  greater  familiarity  with  practical 
politics  than  he.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Woodmen,  be- 
ing one  of  the  most  active  local  workers 
in  the  latter  society.  His  children  are: 
Bertha,  wife  of  James  Mitchell,  of  Marion, 
Ohio;  Lewis  H.,  a  student  in  the  Starling 
Medical  college,  Columbus,  Ohio;  Tamsy, 
a  student  in  the  Gambler  schools;  and  Carl 
H.,  a  student  in  the  Howard  high  school. 

Columbus  Delano  McCullough  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead  known  as  the  Colum- 
bus Delano  farm,  near  Mount  Vernon,  on 
the  7th  of  November,  1872,  and  is  a  son  of 
Robert  and  Ellen  (Miller)  McCullough, 
who  soon  thereafter  removed  to  Howard 
township,  where  he  grew  to  maturity.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  engaged  as 
a  clerk  in  a  general  store  at  Howard,  an  oc- 
cupation he  has  since  followed  with  the  ex- 
ception of  about  five  years  in  which  he  sold 


228 


A    CENTfeNNIAL   BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


insurance  and  worked  in  a  factory  in  Akron. 
For  about  one  year  he  has  been  associated  as 
salesman  with  the  Stadler  Clothing  Com- 
pany, at  Mount  Vernon,  where  he  is  con- 
sidered a  capable  and  enterprising  gentle- 
man. He  was  married  January  19,  1897, 
to  Miss  Nannie  Alice,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Lewis  Britton,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Robert,  born  July  14,  1901. 


THEODORE  S.  PITKIN. 

When  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded  and 
from  the  workshops,  the  fields  and  the  office 
men  flocked  to  the  standard  of  the  nation, 
the  patriotic  spirit  of  Theodore  S.  Pitkin 
was  aroused  and  when  only  seventeen  years 
of  age  he  donned  the  blue  as  a  defender  of 
the  Union.  On  the  field  of  battle  he  dis- 
played valor  and  resolution  which  equalled 
that  of  veterans  of  more  than  twice  his  years 
and  not  until  the  war  ended  and  the  flag  of 
the  Union  floated  triumphantly  over  the 
capitol  of  the  confederacy  did  he  leave  the 
army.  From  that  time  forward  he  has  been 
an  actice  factor  in  business  and  public  af- 
fairs in  Knox  county  and  is  ever  found  sup- 
porting the  cause  which  he  believes  to  be 
right  and  the  measures  which  he  thinks  will 
promote  the  general  welfare. 

Mr.  Pitkin  was  born  in  Milford  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  July  2,  1846,  a  son  of 
the  Rev.  John  Pitkin,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Vermont.  The  latter's  father  died 
when  the  son  was  only  eight  years  of  age 
and  largely  from'  that  time  he  depended  up- 
on his  own  resources.  In  early  manhood  he 
came  to  Ohio  and  studied  for  the  ministry 
in  Chillicothe,  Ohio.     He  also  attended  col- 


lege in  Cannonsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and 
throughout  his  remaining  days  he  devoted 
his  time  and  talents  to  the  Master's  service 
as  a  preacher  of  the  Presbyterian  denomin- 
ation. In  Chillicothe  he  married  Eliza  Wil- 
son, a  native  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 
Her  father,  Rev.  Robert  Wilson,  was  also  a 
Presbyterian  minister  and  for  some  time 
president  of  Athens  College.  Rev.  John 
Pitkin  served  in  the  war  of  181 2  and 
his  country  and  her  institutions  were  ever 
dear  to  him.  He  reached  a  very  advanced 
age,  dying  at  his  ninety-ninth  year,  while  his 
wife  passed  away  in  her  sixty-first  year. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  six 
sons  and  four  daughters,  and  four  of  the 
sons  were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war — John, 
Samuel,  Ebenezer  and  Theo.  S.  John  and 
Ebenezer  both  died  in  the  service.  The 
former  served  Company  G,  Twentieth  Ohio 
and  Ebenezer  was  a  member  of  Company  A, 
Ninety-sixth  Ohio.  Samuel  served  three 
years  in  the  First  Minnesota  Volunteer  In- 
fantry. He  was  wounded  by  a  bayonet  thrust 
at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  and  he  par- 
ticipated in  many  other  important  engage- 
ments including  those  of  Bull  Run,  Antie- 
tam,  Gettysburg  and  others.  He  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Portland,  Oregon.  The  other  brothers 
of  the  family  are  Robert  Pitkin,  who  was  a 
merchant  in  Iowa  and  is  now  deceased ;  and 
Rev.  Paul,  who  is  a  teacher  of  languages  at 
Springfield,  Masachusetts.  The  sisters  were : 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Camp  and  Mrs.  Mary  -Smith, 
both  deceased;  Emily,  of  Mount  Vernon; 
and  Mrs.  Sarah  Hookway,  who^  is  als<j  de- 
ceased. 

Mr.  Pitkin  of  this  review  is  the  youngest 
of  the  family.  The  days  of  his  childhood 
and  youth  were  passed  in  Milford  township, 
where  he  attended  the  district  schools. 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


229 


In  1863,  he  donned  the  bkie  uniform  of 
lis  country  and  became  a  member  of  Com- 
)any  G,  Twentieth  Ohio  Vohmteer  Infant- 
"y,  the  same  in  which  his  brother  had  served 
ind  in  which  he  continued  as  a  private  until 
he  close  of  the  war.  He  participated  in 
he  Meridian  raid  and  the  engagements  of 
he  Atlanta  campaign.  At  Atlanta  he  was 
vounded  in  the  right  breast  by  a  gun  shot 
md  was  sent  to  the  Marietta  hospital.  Later 
le  was  in  the  hospital  at  Louisville,  Ken- 
;uck;y,  and  from:  there  was  transferred  to 
he  Covington  hospital.  After  an  absence 
)f  six  months  he  was  sent  to  Hilton 
riead,  South  Carolina,  rejoining  his  regi- 
nent  at  Raleigh  and  participated  in  the 
jrand  Review  in  Washington,  receiving  an 
lonorable  discharge  at  Columbus.  Mr.  Pit- 
cin  returned  to  his  home  in  Milford  town- 
ihip,  Knox  county,  and  resumed  farming. 
He  was  married  November  30,  1871,  to 
Miss  Mary  F.  Walton,  a  native  of  Greene 
;ounty,  Pennsylvania,  whence  she  came  to 
:his  county  when  seventeen  years  of  age. 
For  six  years  she  successfully  engaged  in 
:eaching,  following  that  profession  until  her 
carriage.  She  has  become  the  mother  of 
:ight  children :  Edith  Estelle,  who  was  a 
leacher  in  the  Mount  Vernon  schools  and 
ivhile  taking  a  drive  in  company  with  an- 
Dther  teacher  and  pupils,  was  killed  at  Ball's 
Crossing  on  the  B.  &  O.  Railroad,  as  was 
ilso  one  of  her  pupils,  Henry  Rosenthal. 
Harry  W.,  who  is  a  graduate  of 
Wooster  College,  of  the  class  of  1900,  and 
is  now  a  student  in  the  Columbia  Law 
School  in  New  York  city:  Robert  W.,  Mary 
F.,  Walter  G.,  Eva  S.,  Ethel  E.  and  Ruth 
E.,  all  yet  at  home.  Several  of  the  children 
tiave  had  the  advantages  of  the  High  school 
and   Normal  or  College  training,   it  being 


their  parents'  desire  to  afford  each  such  thor- 
ough educational  advantages  as  will  amply 
fit  them  for  any  responsible  position. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Pitkin  has  re- 
sided upon  his  present  farm  in  Milford 
township,  where  he  owns  and  operates  two 
farms  of  two  hundred  acres  of  rich  land, 
which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  also  has  property  in  Mount 
Vernon.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  Lock,  is  serving  as  one  of 
its  deacons  and  takes  an  active  part  in  its 
work.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republi- 
can and  he  has  been  a  member  of  Yager 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Mount  Liberty,  since  its 
organization. 


AMASA  P.  ROBERTSON,  M.  D. 

The  qualities  which  insure  success  to  the 
representatives  of  the  medical  fraternity  are 
possessed  in  large  measure  by  Dr.  Robertson, 
who  is  now  a  prominent  physician  of  Mount 
Liberty.  He  was  born  near  Cambridge,  in 
^Vashington  county.  New  York,  January  3. 
1843.  His  father,  Ezra  S.  Robertson,  was 
a  native  of  the  same  locality,  born  September 
6,  1809.  In  early  life  he  learned  the  trade  of 
carriage  and  wagon  making,  and  throughout 
his  entire  life  he  followed  those  pursuits.  On 
the  1st  of  October,  1835,  he  married  Miss 
Sarah  Pratt,  who  was  born  December  11. 
1812,  in  Washington  county.  New  York. 
In  1844  they  came  to  Knox  county,  locating 
in  Mount  Liberty,  where  they  spent  their  re- 
maining days,  the  father  passing  away  in 
1880,  while  his  wife  died  in  1889.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  while 
she  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.     In  his  political  views  Ezra  Robert- 


230 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


son  was  a  stalwart  Republican  and  at  all 
times  he  was  loyal  in  support  of  his  honest 
convictions.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  of 
Scotch  descent  and  they  were  people  of  the 
highest  respectability,  their  upright  lives  en- 
titling them  to  the  warm  regard  of  all  with 
whom  they  were  associated.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  sons  and  three  daughters, 
seven  of  whom  are  now  living. 

The  Doctor  had  a  twin  brother,  Jesse, 
who  lived  to  be  twenty  years  of  age.  They 
were  only  a  year  and  a  half  old  when  brought 
to  Knox  county,  and  in  Centerburg  and 
Mount  Liberty  Dr.  Robertson  spent  his 
youth.  He  began  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  in  the  high  school  of  Mount 
Vernon  continued  his  studies.  He  was  grad- 
uated in  the  Bryan  &  Tomlinson  Commercial 
College  at  Columbus  in  1866,  and  soon  after- 
ward began  the  study  of  medicine.  While 
thus  engaged  he  taught  school  in  order  to 
meet  his  expenses  while  pursuing  his  studies, 
which  were  directed  by  Dr.  T.  H.  Van  Kirk. 
Later  he  entered  the  Eclectic  Medical  Insti- 
tute in  Cincinnati  and  was  there  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  with  the  class  of 
1873.  He  then  began  practice  at  Mount 
Liberty,  where  he  has  since  remained,  and 
his  practice  has  continually  grown  until  the 
multiplicity  of  his  professional  duties  leaves 
him  little  leisure  time.  He  receives  the  pat- 
ronage of  many  of  the  best  families  of  the 
town  and  surrounding  county,  and  his  suc- 
cess is  an  indication  of  his  skill  and  ability. 

In  November,  1873,  the  Doctor  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Thomp- 
son, a  native  of  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  John  Thompson  of  that  coun- 
ty, who  removed  to  Mount  Liberty  during 
her  early  girlhood.    By  her  marriage  she  has 


become  the  mother  of  one  daughter,  Olive, 
who  is  now  a  student  in  Otterbein  Univer- 
sity, where  she  is  devoting  special  attention 
to  music.  Fraternally  the  Doctor  is  a  Mason 
and  in  the  line  of  his  profession  is  connected 
with  the  Ohio  Medical  Association.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
in  his  political  views  is  an  earnest  and  zeal- 
ous Republican.  He  belongs  to  the  school 
board  and  the  cause  of  education  finds  in 
him  a  warm  friend.  As  a  citizen  he  is  ever 
loyal  to  the  best  interests  of  county,  state 
and  nation,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war 
he  manifested  his  patriotic  spirit  bv  enlist- 
ing, on  the  1st  of  September.  1862,  as  a 
member  of  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-first  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  with 
which  he  served  until  the  close  of  hostilities, 
being  promoted  from  the  ranks  to  the  office 
of  sergeant  major.  He  took  part  in  a  num- 
ber of  battles,  went  with  Sherman  on  the 
march  to  the  sea,  and  also  participated  in 
the  grand  review  in  Washington,  the  most 
celebrated  military  pageant  ever  seen  in  the 
Western  Hemisphere.  He  was  only  away 
from  his  company  thirty  days  in  three  years. 
Always  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  he  faith- 
fully defended  the  cause  he  espoused  and 
was  a  valiant  soldier.  The  same  fidelity  has 
characterized  him  through  life  and  has  been 
one  secret  of  his  success  as  a  member  of  the 
medical  profession. 


CLAYTON  H.  BISHOP. 

Among  the  most  enterprising  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  Centerburg  and  Knox 
county  is  Clayton  H.  Bishop,  the  present  effi- 
cient  postmaster   and    insurance    and    loan 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


231 


agent.  Starting  out  upon  his  business  career 
without  capital,  he  has  steadily  and  persist- 
ently overcome  all  difficulties  and  advanced 
to  a  prominent  position  in  commercial  circles. 
He  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in  the  county, 
for  he  is  one  of  her  native  sons,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Milford  township,  on 
the  nth  of  June,  i860.  His  father,  Allen 
Bishop,  was  born  in  the  same  township  and 
is  a  farmer  by  occupation.  There  he  yet 
makes  his  home — one  of  the  highly  respect- 
ed citizens  of  that  community.  His  wife, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Nettie  Way- 
land,  was  born  in  South  Bloomfield  town- 
ship. Morrow  county,  Ohio,  and  was  there 
reared  when  that  locality  was  within  the 
borders  of  Knox  county.  By  her  marriage 
she  became  the  mother  of  six  sons  of  whom 
Clayton  H.  Bishop  is  the  eldest. 

On  the  family  homestead  in  Milford 
township  the  subject  of  this  review  spent  his 
boyhood  days  and  the  work  of  the  farm 
early  became  familiar  to  him  through  the 
channels  of  practical  experience.  He  at- 
tended the  district  schools  and  continued  his 
education  in  Mount  Liberty.  When  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  without  capital  and  chose  as  the  field 
of  his  labors  the  insurance  business,  with 
which  he  has  since  been  connected.  In  1884, 
when  twenty-four  years  of  age,  he  opened 
an  office  on  his  own  account  and  purchased 
the  agency  of  Critchfield  &  Ashley.  He  has 
long  been  well  established  in  this  line  of 
work  and  is  now  representing  the  Ohio 
Farmers"  Insurance  Company,  the  Royal  of 
New  York,  the  Underwriters,  the  Franklin 
of  Columbus,  the  National,  the  Hartford  of 
Hartford,  the  Milwaukee  Mechanics',  the 
German  of  Freeport,  Fire  Association  of 
Philadelphia,    the   Philadelphia    Underwrit- 


ers' Insurance  Company  of  North  America 
and  many  other  reliable  companies.  He  an- 
nually writes  a  large  amount  of  business 
and  he  has  three  employes  in  his  office. 

Mr.  Bishop  is  a  man  of  excellent  busi- 
ness ability  and  executive  force  and  his 
sound  judgment  has  proven  a  valuable  fac- 
tor in  the  successful  control  of  other  import- 
ant enterprises.  He  is  secretary  of  the  Cen- 
terburg  Building  &  Loan  Association,  is  one 
of  the  stockholders  and  directors  in  the  Cen- 
terburg  Bank,  and  has  a  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  in  Milford  township,  in- 
cluding the  old  family  homestead,  to  which 
he  has  added  until  it  has  reached  its  present 
extensive  proportions.  This  property  yields 
to  him  a  good  income.  Added  to  the  man- 
agement of  his  other  interests  he  is  now 
capably  and  acceptably  serving  as  postmaster 
to  which  position  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent McKinley  in  June,  1897,  and  on  the 
expiration  of  his  first  term,  in  June,  1901, 
he  was  again  appointed,  so  that  his  incumb- 
enc}'  will  continue  until  1905.  In  his  ad- 
ministration of  the  affairs  of  the  office  he  is 
prompt  and  notably  reliable  and  has  there- 
fore won  the  unqualified  support  of  the 
public. 

A  free  delivery  was  started  from  this 
office  in  December,  1900,  and  since  Febru- 
ary I,  1902,  three  others  have  been  establish- 
ed, the  four  routes  now  serving  all  the  sur- 
rounding territory.  One  office,  that  of  Lock> 
has  been  closed. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1882,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  Mr.  Bishop  and  Miss 
Lizzie  Bennington,  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  which  state  she  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated. Prior  to  her  marriage  she  was  a 
successful  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Centerburg.      Mr.    and    Airs.    Bishop    now 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


have  two  sons.  Ray  B.  and  Guy  C.,  both  at 
home.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his 
political  affiliations  and  warmly  endorses  the 
principles  of  the  party.  Socially  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  ]\Iasonic  and  Kniglits  of 
Pythias  fraternities  and  religiously  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  is 
now  serving  as  trustee.  The  Cjualities  of  an 
upright  manhood  are  his,  and  though  his  life 
history  contains  no  startling  or  exciting 
chapters  there  is  much  in  his  career  that  is 
worthy  of  emulation,  notably  his  fidelity  to 
duty  and  the  determination  and  energy  with 
which  he  has  advanced  in  business. 


H.  H.  ROBERTSON. 

One  of  the  boys  in  blue  of  the  Civil  war, 
and  at  all  times  a  loyal  citizen,  true  to  the  in- 
terests of  county,  state  and  nation,  H.  H. 
Robertson  is  numbered  among  the  represen- 
tative business  men  of  Mount  Liberty.  He 
was  born  in  Washington  county.  New  York, 
on  the  4th  of  September,  1840,  and  is  a 
brother  of  Dr.  A.  P.  Robertson,  whose 
sketch,  containing  the  family  history,  will  be 
found  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  Our 
subject  is  the  third  child  in  order  of  birth  in 
his  parents'  family,  and  his  twin  brother, 
John  T.,  is  now  a  resident  of  Hilliar  town- 
ship, Knox  county. 

When  only  about  four  years  of  age  the 
subject  of  this  review  accompanied  the  fam- 
ily on  its  removal  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and 
^e  was  reared  in  Mount  Liberty  and  Center- 
burg,  also  spending  about  fourteen  years  on 
a  farm  in  Hilliar  township.  During  his 
youth  he  attended  the  district  schools  of  his 
neighborhood,  and-  completed  his  education 


in  the  high  school  of  Alount  Vernon.  \\'hen 
the  Civil  war  was  inaugurated  he  went  to 
the  front  as  a  defender  of  the  Union  cause, 
enlisting-  on  the  5th  of  June,  1861,  in  Com- 
pany B.  Fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry. 
During  his  army  career  he  participated  in 
twenty-seven  battles,  among  them  being 
those  of  Winchester,  Chancellorsville  and 
Gettysburg,  and  although  he  took  part  in 
many  hard-fought  engagements  during  the 
contest  he  was  never  wounded,  but  for  three 
months,  on  account  of  disability,  he  was  con- 
fined in  a  hospital.  After  a  faithful  service 
of  three  years  and  fifteen  days  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged,  returning  to  his  home 
with  a  most  creditable  military  record.  After 
the  close  of  his  army  experience  Mr.  Robert- 
son was  engaged  in  farming  near  ]\Iount 
Liberty  for  the  following  three  years,  but  on 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  abandoned 
the  tilling  of  the  soil  tO'  embark  in  mercantile 
life,  opening  a  general  store  at  Mount  Lib- 
erty, and  he  is  now  the  oldest  merchant  in 
years  of  continuous  service  in  the  village. 
He  first  began  business  here  in  a  small  way, 
but  as  time  has  passed  by,  success  has  re- 
warded his  efforts  and  he  is  now  the  propri- 
etor of  a  large  and  well  stocked  store.  His 
success  is  largely  due  to  his  capable  manage- 
ment, splendid  executive  ability,  untiring- 
efforts  and  firm  purpose,  and  his  reputation 
in  commercial  circles  is  above  question. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Robertson  was  cele- 
brated in  1866,  when  ^liss  C.  Scarborough 
became  his  wife.  She  is  a  native  daughter 
of  Knox  county,  her  parents,  James  and 
Eliza  (Breckenridge)  Scarborough,  having 
been  among  the  early  pioneers  of  this  local- 
ity, locating  in  Liberty  township  as  early  as 
1838.  Three  children  have  been  born  unto 
this  union :    Josephine.  William  N.  and  Ar- 


OF   KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


233 


thur  E.,  the  latter  attending  school  at  Mount 
Vernon.  The  daughter  is  a  graduate  of 
music  at  the  Boston  Musical  Conservatory, 
and  her  husband,  the  Rev.  A.  E.  Winter,  is 
a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Sandusky,  Ohio.  Rev.  William  N.  Rob- 
ertson is  a  graduate  of  the  Ohio  Western 
University,  and  is  also  a  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  being'  now  lo- 
cated at  Wakeman,  Huron  county,  Ohio. 
He  married  Miss  Daisy  McLellan.  Mr.  Rob- 
ertson, of  this  review,  is  a  stanch  Republi- 
can in  his  political  views,  and  socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
and  the  Knights  of  Honor.  His  religious 
views  are  in  harmony  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  has  long  held 
membership,  and  for  many  years  has  served 
as  a  steward  therein.  His  friends  have  the 
highest  appreciation  of  his  many  excellent 
qualities,  and  all  esteem  him  for  a  life  over 
which  there  falls  no'  shadow  of  wrong  or 
suspicion  of  evil. 


BENJAMIN  DURBIN. 

Benjamin  Durbin,  who  is  now  living  re- 
tired at  his  pleasant  home  in  Danville,  en- 
joying the  fruits  of  his  former  toil,  was  born 
in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  on  the  8th  of  May, 
1828,  a  son  of  Baptist  and  a  grandson  of 
John  Durbin,  both  natives  of  Maryland.  In 
early  life  the  latter  was  employed  as  a  dis- 
tiller, but  he  was  a  weaver  by  trade  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  after  coming  to  Ohio. 
His  death  occurred  in  Howard  township 
when  he  had  reached  the  eighty-second  mile- 
stone on  the  journey  of  life.  He  was  of  Ger- 
man descent.    His  son  and  the  father  of  our 

15 


subject  left  his  native  state  when  a  young 
man  and  removed  to  Belmont  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1832, 
the  year  of  his  arrival  in  Knox  county.  Lo- 
cating in  Howard  township,  he  there  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits  during  the  remaind- 
er of  his  life,  passing  to  the  home  beyond 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years.  In  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Catherine  King,  a  na- 
tive of  that  county,  and  she  passed  away  in 
death  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty- 
four  years.  Her  father,  John  King,  came  to 
this  country  from  Ireland,  his  native  land- 
Unto  this  union  fourteen  children  were  born,, 
eleven  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity. 
After  the  death  of  the  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren the  father  was  again  married,  but  there 
were  no  children  by  the  second  union. 

Benjamin  Durbin,  the  second  of  his  par- 
ents' fourteen  children,  was  but  three  years 
of  age  when  he  was  brought  to  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the 
district  schools  of  Howard  township.  Re- 
maining with  his  father  until  his  twenty-first 
year,  he  then,  in  1S50,  went  to  Wyandot 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  the  fol- 
lowing three  years,  on  the  expiration  of 
which  period  he  again  went  tO'  Howard 
township.  From  that  time  until  his  mar- 
riage he  remained  with  his  father  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  about  1863  he  came  to  Union 
township,  purchasing  and  locating  on  the 
farm  which  he  still  owns.  His  home  place 
consists  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
excellent  land,  all  of  which  is  under  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation,  and  everything  about  the 
place  bears  evidence  of  a  progressive  and 
thrifty  owner.  Success  has  abundantly  re- 
warded the  well  directed  efforts  of  Mr.  Dur- 
bin, securing  for  him  an  excellent  compe- 


234 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


tence,  and  in  1898  he  was  able  to  put  aside 
the  active  duties  of  a  business  Hfe  and  spend 
the  remainder  of  his  days  in  quiet  retirement, 
removing  to  Danville. 

Mr.  Durbin  has  been  twice  married.  In 
1857  he  wedded  Margaret  McXaman,  and 
tliey  had  the  following  children,  name- 
ly: William  B.,  deceased;  Alice,  de- 
ceased; Clement,  a  prominent  fanner  of 
Union  township;  Salora,  the  wife  of 
Albert  Loysdon,  of  Wyandot  county, 
Ohio;  Mary  J-,  wife  of  Thomas  Dur- 
bin, of  Howard  township;  and  Bertha, 
wife  of  William  Grassbaugh,  who  resides  on 
a  farm  belonging  to  our  subject  in  Union 
township.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Durbin 
chose  Elizabeth  Porter,  the  widow  of  Francis 
McNamara.  He  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Scott,  and  his  ballot  was  afterward 
cast  in  favor  of  Whig  and  Republican  can- 
didates until  he  supported  Buchanan  in  1856, 
and  he  also  voted  for  Bryan  at  both  elec- 
tions. For  six  years  he  served  as  trustee  of 
Union  township.  Religiously  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  Luke's  Catholic  church,  and  has 
assisted  in  the  erection  of  its  three  houses  of 
worship  in  this  township,  the  last  one  having 
been  erected  in  1895. 


JACOB  H.  DELONG. 

Jacob  H.  Delong  is  numbered  among  the 
native  sons  of  Knox  county,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Jefferson  township,  August  21, 
1839,  and  since  he  has  arrived  at  years  of 
maturity  he  has  been  an  important  factor  in 
agricultural  circles.  As  a  progressive  citi- 
zen he  has  aided  in  the  work  of  development 
and   improvement   in   the  county   and   well 


does  he  deserve  representation  among  the 
leading  farmers  here.  His  father,  John  De- 
long,  was  also  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
entered  land  from  the  government  in  Jeffer- 
son township.  The  latter's  father  was  a 
sailor,  but  John  Delong  always  devoted  his 
energies  to  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil,  and 
upon  the  original  homestead  in  this  county 
he  passed  away  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years. 
His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary 
Ann  Schultz  and  was  born  in  Union  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  her  parents  being  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  this  locality,  whither  they 
came  from  Pennsylvania.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Delong  were  born  ten  children,  all  na- 
tives of  Knox  county.  One  of  the  number 
is  B.  F.  Delong,  a  twin  brother  of  our  sub- 
ject and  now  a  resident  of  Butler  township, 
Knox  county.  One  brother,  Louis,  enlisted 
in  the  Union  army  and  died  in  the  service 
of  his  country.  The  daughters  of  the  fam- 
ily were  Martha,  tlie  wife  of  M.  Simpson, 
of  Jefferson  township;  Elizabeth,  the  wife 
of  George  Stockman,  of  Shelby,  Ohio;  and 
Rose,  who  married  Felty  Derr,  of  Ashland 
county. 

On  the  old  family  homestead,  J.  H.  De- 
long was  reared,  and  in  his  early  youth  he 
pursued  his  education  in  a  log  school  house 
of  the  neighborhood.  Very  early  in  life 
he  started  out  on  his  own  account,  working 
by  the  month  or  day  as  a  farm  hand  in  the 
district  in  which  his  parents  resided,  ^^'hen 
he  had  attained  to  man's  estate  he  chose  as 
a  companion  and  helpmate  for  the  journey 
of  life  Miss  Louisa  Horn,  the  wedding  being 
celebrated  in  Jefferson  township  January  15, 
1863.  She  was  born  in  this  township,  a 
daughter  of  Abram  and  Rebecca  (Staats) 
Horn,  who  were  early  settlers  of  Knox 
countv.     Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


235 


five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters, 
namely:  Benjamin  F.,  who  married  Edith 
Pinkley  and  resides  in  Brinkhaven;  Eldora, 
the  wife  of  Porter  Matthews,  of  Brown 
township ;  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Emmerson 
Kunkel,  also  of  Brown  township;  Abram  J., 
Avho  married  Delia  Yarger,  and  is  a  farmer 
of  Brown  township;  and  Eldon  Roy,  at 
home.  IMr.  and  Mrs.  Belong  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  a  rented  farm  in  Jefifer- 
son  township,  there  residing  for  about  fif- 
teen years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  period 
Mr.  Belong  purchased  the  farm  which  is 
now  their  home  and  to  the  cultivation  of 
which  he  has  since  devoted  his  time  with 
excellent  results.  He  owns  one  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  acres  in  this  tract,  fifty  acres 
adjoining  the  home  place  and  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  Jefiferson  township,  so^ 
that  his  landed  possessions  aggregate  three 
hundred  and  sixteen  acres.  For  about  thirty 
years  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  shipping 
business,  buying  and  selling  stock  in  con- 
nection with  farming.  He  is  well  known 
throughout  the  county  as  a  reliable  business 
man,  and  well  has  he  earned  the  title  of  a 
self-made  man,  for  his  prosperity  is  the  out- 
come of  his  own  earnest  and  honorable  ef- 
forts. His  political  allegiance  is  given  the 
Bemocracy  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  of  Jelloway,  in 
which  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  its 
work  and  upbuilding,  and  is  a  member  of 
its  board  of  trustees.  In  1861  he  manifested 
his  loyalty  to  the  government  by  enlisting 
in  the  Sixty-fifth  Ohio  Regiment,  with 
which  he  went  to  Columbus,  but  there  he 
was  rejected  on  account  of  physical  disa- 
bility. At  home,  however,  he  did  all  in  his 
power  to  advance  the  Union  cause  and  the 
same  determined  spirit  has  ever  marked  the 


discharge  of  his  duties  of  citizenship.  Hav- 
ing spent  his  entire  life  in  Knox  county  his 
fellow  citizens  are  familiar  with  his  record, 
which  at  all  times  has  been  worthy  of  com- 
mendation and  those  who  have  known  him 
from  boyhood  are  among  his  stanchest 
friends. 


BAVIB  T.  BEST. 

The  celebrated  English  historian  has 
said:  "A  people  that  take  no  pride  in  the 
noble  achievements  of  remote  ancestors  will 
never  achieve  anything  worthy  to  be  remem- 
bered with  pride  by  remote  generations." 
A  published  family  history,  however,  is 
proof  that  those  who  bear  the  name  of  Best 
are  interested  in  the  ancestral  history  as  far 
as  it  is  known  and  as  through  several  gener- 
ations members  of  the  family  have  resided  in 
Knox  county  and  have  borne  an  important 
and  honorable  part  in  its  development  and 
progress  it  is  expedient  that  mention  be 
made  of  their  work  in  this  volume,  contain- 
ing the  records  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  the  community  from  pioneer  times  down 
to  the  present  period  of  modern  achievement. 
Bavid  Best  has  for  six  decades  resided  in 
Knox  county.  He  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
January  5,  1832,  and  is  the  sixth  of  the 
eleven  children,  nine  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters of  Peter  and  Mary  (Trimmer)  Best. 

It  is  believed  that  the  Best  family  is  of 
Scotch  lineage,  but  when  it  was  founded  in 
America  is  not  known.  There  is  only  a 
traditional  histor_y  back  of  the  grandparents 
of  our  subject,  for  in  the  midst  of  busy  lives 
the  ancestors  did  not  pause  to  think  tha^ 
their  work  and  records  would  some  day  be 
valued  by  their  posterity.     John  Best,  the 


236 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


grandfather,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  June 
15,  1759,  and  his  brothers  were  Jaines,  Will- 
iam, Cornelius  and  Michael,  and  a  half- 
brother,  Daniel.  John  Best  wedded  Mary 
Haas,  who  was  born  May  10,  1767,  and 
was  of  a  Holland  Dutch  family,  but  her  an- 
cestral history  is  even  more  obscure  than 
that  of  the  Best  family.  The  marriage, 
which  occurred  November  2,  1784,  was 
blessed  with  the  following  children :  Mary, 
who  was  born  June  6,  1788,  and  became 
Mrs.  Rush;  John,  born  April  3,  1791; 
James,  born  April  23,  1794;  Peter,  born 
May  13,  1797;  William,  bom  March  27, 
1800;  Mrs.  Eleanor  Bond,  born  Decem- 
ber 7,  1802;  and  Jacob,  born  April  11,  1804. 
The  children  became  widely  scattered  as 
they  married  and  left  home.  The  parents 
both  died  in  Pennsylvania,  the  mother  April 
24,  1822,  the  father  in  April,  1839,  when  he 
was  laid  by  her  side  in  the  Chillisauqua 
graveyard  in  Northumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Peter  Best,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
though  born  in  New  Jersey,  was  reared  just 
across  the  Delaware  river  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania.  At  German 
Valley,  in  the  former  state,  however,  he  was 
married,  January  2,  1823,  to  Mary  Trim- 
mer, who  made  for  him  a  happy  home  and 
was  a  loving  and  devoted  mother  to  their 
children.  She  was  born  June  5,  1802,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  John  and'  Elizabeth  (Lan- 
terman)  Trimmer,  who  were  married  in 
New  Jersey,  September  12,  1801.  The 
father  was  of  German  descent,  born  in  1781, 
and  the  mother's  birth  occurred  March  12, 
1779.  Leaving  their  two  married  daughters 
in  the  east  they  removed  with  their  younger 
children  to  McLean  county.  Illinois,  and 
there  secured  from  the  government  a  home- 


stead, but  the  father  was  not  long  permitted 
to  enjoy  his  new  home,  his  death  there  oc- 
curring October  3,  1826.  In  that  frontier 
region  the  mother  then  reared  her  children 
in  a  manner  that  made  her  memory  revered 
and  honored  by  them.  She  died  April  7, 
1847. 

Peter  Best  and  his  wife  began  their  do- 
mestic life  on  a  rented  farm  near  Hacketts- 
town.  New  Jersey,  the  young  husband 
sturdily  tilling  the  soil  through  the  first  year 
with  the  aid  of  only  one  horse,  but  the  little 
home  was  blessed  by  the  presence  of  a  son, 
their  first  born.  They  afterward  returned 
to  German  Valley  and  during,  their  eight 
years'  residence  there  four  more  children 
were  added  to  the  household  and  still  four 
others  were  born  in  New  Germantown,  that 
state.  The  following  is  the  record  of  their 
family:  John,  born  October  3,  1823;  Will- 
iam, June  9,  1825;  Jesse,  January  7,  1827; 
Jacob,  January  14,  1829;  Mary  E.,  October 
25,  1830;  David  T.,  January  5,  1832;  Lydia 
E.,  May  20,  1834;  Ananias,  July  10,  1836; 
Peter,  September  5,  1838;  James,  October 
25,  1840;  and  Sylvester,  January  30,  1843. 
The  last  two  were  born  in  Ohio.  Of  this 
number  Peter  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
and  William  died  September  12,  1877.,  It 
was  in  the  fall  of  1839  that  Peter  Best  with 
his  wife  and  children  started  westward  in 
the  manner  of  "movers"  of  that  period  and 
on  the  3d  of  October  crossed  the  Ohio  river 
into  this  state,  making  their  way  to  Gambler 
where  lived  David  Trimmer,  an  uncle  of 
Mrs.  Best.  The  mother  and  children  re- 
mained at  his  home  while  the  father  sought 
a  favorable  location.  He  finally  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  near  Centerburg, 
in  Hilhar  township,  afterward  known  as  the 
Best  homestead.     The  familv  moved  into  a 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,,  OHIO. 


log-  cabin,  which,  about  1846,  was  replaced 
by  a  more  commodious  and  comfortable 
frame  residence.  Peter  Best,  with  the  aid 
of  his  sons,  performed  the  arduous  task  of 
clearing  the  land  for  the  plow  and  cultivat- 
ing the  first  crops,  but  in  course  of  time  the 
farm  returned  to  himi  a  good  living.  His 
wife  aided  in  the  establishment  of  the  home 
by  her  neat  and  frugal  management  of  the 
household  and  the  years  were  thus  passed; 
but  as  there  were  no  railroads  and  as  it  was 
almost  an  impossibility  to  hold  any  commun- 
ication with  people  in  other  parts  of  the 
county,  this  immediate  family  lost  all  trace 
of  their  relatives,  as  did  the  latter  of  them, 
and  it  was  not  until  many  years  afterward, 
through  the  genealogical  research  of  Dr. 
Robert  B.  Rush,  that  the  separated  families 
were  once  more  brought  in  touch.  In  this 
way  Jacob  Best  came  to  know  of  his  brother 
Peter's  whereabouts  and  resolved  to  visit 
him.  One  night  he  arrived  in  Centerburg 
and  unannounced  he  walked  into  his  broth- 
er's sitting  room.  They  had  not  seen  each 
other  for  forty  years,  but  the  recognition 
was  mutual  and  instantaneous,  and  it  may 
readily  be  imagined  that  the  reunion  was  a 
most  happ}^  one. 

The  greatest  grief  which  came  to  the 
pioneer  home  was  in  the  death  of  the  wife 
and  mother,  Mrs.  Mary  Best,  July  22,  1856. 
The  husband  survived  almost  twenty  years, 
passing  away  September  12,  1875.  They 
were  both  earnest  Christian  people  and 
brought  up  their  children  in  the  fear  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord.  Their  names  were 
long  on  the  membership  rolls  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church  of  Centerburg, 
and  their  lives  were  in  harmony  with  the 
teachings  of  the  Master. 

The  following  is  a  brief  record  of  their 


children,  with  exception  of  Peter,  whose 
death  has  been  chronicled :  John  Best  went 
to  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  in  1842,  and 
has  since  lived  near  Cable.  He  was  married 
Noveinber  29,  1849,  to  Mary  Jane  Yocom, 
who  died  Augxist  17,  1894.  They  had  three 
children — Enola  Jane,  wife  of  Staton  E. 
Middleton;  Carrie  Belle,  wife  of  David 
Perry ;  and  John  W.  P. 

AVilliaml  Best  was  married  November 
15,  1846,  to  Sophia  Houk  and  located  on  a 
portion  of  the  home  farm,  where  he  died 
September  12,  1877,  his  wife  March  22, 
1884.  Their  children  were  Ananias  Trim- 
mer; Laura  Josephine  Isable,  the  widow  of 
John  R.  Headington;  Malissa  Adaline;  Pe- 
ter Leroy;  and  Mary  Loella,  the  wife  of 
W^illiam  A.  Palmer.  All  are  deceased  with 
the  exception  of  the  married  daughters. 

Jesse  Best  spent  the  winter  of  1854-5  in 
Lexington,  Illinois,  and  in  the  latter  year  re- 
moved to  Clarksville,  Iowa,  but  after  eleven 
years  wenut  to  Neosho  Falls,  Kansas,  where 
he  has  followed  farming.  He  was  married 
November  30,  1856,  to  Mary  E.  Spawr  and 
died  December  20,  1901.  Their  children  are 
Elizabeth  Ellen,  wife  of  William  Cooke; 
William  James;  Peter  Sylvester,  deceased; 
Lydia  Olive;  Jesse  Jasper;  Frank  Leslie; 
and  Myrtle  Imogene,  deceased. 

Jacob  Best  "went  to  Lexington,  Illiniois, 
in  the  fall  of  1853  and  became  a  successful 
lumber  merchant,  but  retired  from  business 
in  1 89 1.  He  was  married  February  24, 
1874,  to  Isabel  Garrett,  and  they  lost  two 
children,  Saidee  Belle  and  Leonard  Garrett. 

Mary  E.  Best  was  married  April  13, 
1854,  to  Lemon  Chadwick,  and  in  1868  they 
removed  to  Woodson  county,  Kansas,  where 
they  followed  farming  until  about  1893, 
when  they  went  to  Nevada,  IMissouri.  They 


238 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY 


had  four  children:  Laura  Adaline;  Alson 
E.,  Annia  [Matilda  and  Effie  Ellen.  All  are 
married  and  the  first  named  is  now  deceased. 

David  T.  Best  is  the  next  of  his  fathers 
family. 

Lydia  E.  Best  was  married  October  19, 
1880,  to  John  McGuire  and  they  reside  on 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead. 

Ananias  Best  went  to  Clarksville,  Iowa, 
in  1 86 1  and  after  following  farming  with 
success  for  a  number  of  years  is  now  living 
retired  on  a  small  tract  of  land  near  the 
town.  He  was  married  May  31,  1863,  to 
Catherine  R.  McCreary,  and  they  have  two 
sons,  Jacob  Samuel  and  John  William,  both 
married  and  living  near  their  parents. 

James  Best  secured  a  collegiate  educa- 
tion in  Waynesburg  College,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  1867  was  ordained  a  minister 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church.  He 
preached  at  various  places  for  that  denom- 
ination, but  recently  he  became  identified 
with  the  Presbyterian  church.  The  family 
home  is  in  Westerville,  Ohio.  He  married 
Narcissa  ^I.  Conner,  of  Cumberland,  Ohio, 
and  their  children  are  Xolan  Rice,  Ernst 
Merton  and  Mary  Iva. 

Sylvester  Best,  when  a  young  man  of 
nineteen,  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company 
F,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  made  a  cor- 
poral. He  took  part  in  some  of  the  most 
hotly  contested  engagements  of  the  Civil 
war  and  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  June  27, 
1864,  was  seriously  wounded.  He  was  sent 
to  a  hospital  at  Nashville  and  for  several 
months  it  was  impossible  to  tell  whether  he 
would  live  or  die,  but  after  many  weeks  of 
suffering  he  finally  recovered.  He  was  mar- 
ried May  19,  1866,  to  ]\Iiss  ]Martha  Annett, 
and  unto  them  were  born  six  children :  Car- 


rie Bernice,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year ; 
Sylvester  Robert ;  Jesse  Taylor ;  Charles 
Sherman;  an  infant  daughter;  and  Guy 
Spenser. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of 
David  T.  Best,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch  and  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the 
facts  concerning  this  honored  pioneei"  fam- 
ily. He  was  only  about  eight  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  came  to  Knox  county,  set- 
tling near  Gambier.  Upon  the  old  family 
homestead  he  was  reared  and  experienced 
all  tlie  hardships  and  trials  incident  to  life 
on  tlie  frontier,  but  there  were  also  many 
pleasures  to  be  enjoyed,  which  are  not 
known  at  the  present  time  and  altogether  the 
life  was  a  happy  one.  It  is  true  he  bore  his 
share  in  the  farm  work,  but  this  proved  an 
excellent  training  for  him  so  that  when  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account  practical 
experience  fitted  him  for  the  work. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1855,  Mr.  Best 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Susannah 
Addleman,  who  was  born  in  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Knox  county 
\vhen  about  seven  years  of  age.  Her  parents 
were  John  and  Mehitable  (Clawson)  Ad- 
dleman. For  thirty-eight  years  !\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Best  enjoyed  a  happy  married,  and 
then,  on  the  9th  of  January,  1893,  this 
worthy  couple  were  separated  by  the  hand  of 
death,  the  wife  being  called  to  the  home 
beyond.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
children,  of  whom  two  are  living,  John  and 
Lydia  Ellen,  both  of  whom  are  with  their 
father;  and  Wilbert  Irvin,  who  died  May 
22,  1897.  He  had  married  Lydia  Ross  and 
at  his  death  left  a  widow  and  three  children, 
David  Irvin,  Gladys  Leora  and  Minnie 
Florabell. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Best 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


239 


located  on  the  farm  where  he  yet  Hves  and 
has  since  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  When  a  boy  he  learned  the 
plasterer's  trade  and  followed  it  before  his 
marriage  and  to  some  extent  afterward,  but 
his  attention  has  been  chiefly  occupied  with 
his  agricultural  interests.  He  has  a  quarter 
section  of  land  in  the  home  place  and  in 
addition  owns  a  tract  of  one  liundred  and 
fi\-e  acres  known  as  tlie  Merritt  farm,  also 
in  Hilliar  township.  His  systematic  meth- 
ods, his  enterprise,  unflagging  industry  and 
perseverance  have  brought  to  him  very  grat- 
ifying success.  In  his  political  affiliations 
Mr.  Best  has  always  been  a  Democrat  and 
at  one  time  served  as  trustee  in  his  township. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  a  memlaer  of 
the  Freewill  Baptist  church,  takes  an  active 
part  in  its  work  and  has  filled  many  of  its 
offices.  His  life  has  been  in  harmony  with 
its  teachings,  and  the  sterling  qualities  of 
his  character  have  won  him  the  high  re- 
gard of  many  friends. 


LUTHER  L.  HYATT. 

Nature  seems  to  have  intended  that  the 
closing  years  of  life  shall  be  a  period  of  rest 
and  inactivity.  In  youth  one  possesses 
vigor  and  strength  and  the  courage  that 
dares  to  undertake  almost  any  task ;  as  mid- 
dle age  comes  on  judgment  and  experience 
direct  into  safe  channels  the  labors  of 
younger  years  and  make  profitable  the  hon- 
est toil;  then  if  one  has  carefully  husbanded 
their  resources  in  the  evening  of  life  there 
is  plenty  to  meet  the  needs  of  man  and  also 
to  supply  him  with  many  of  the  luxuries 
that  go  to  make  life  worth  the  living  and 


thus  a  rest  may  be  enjoyed  as  the  fitting  re- 
ward of  the  work  of  former  years.  Such 
has  been  the  career  of  Mr.  Hyatt,  wIto  was 
long  connected  with  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  Knox  county  and  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  a  pleasant  home  in  Mount  Vernon. 

He  is  among  the  worthy  citizens  that 
Maryland  has  furnished  to  Ohio,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Montgotriery  county,  of 
the  former  state,  on  the  22d  of  May,  1823, 
his  parents  being  Phillip  and  Rizbah  Nor- 
wood (Watkins)  Hyatt.  It  is  said  that  the 
family  was  founded  in  America  by  three 
brothers,  Meshac,  Shadrach  and  Abdenego 
Hyatt.  Jesse  Hyatt,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  became  a  resident  of  Maryland 
and  laid  out  the  village  of  Hyattstown, 
\\-hicli  was  named  in  h.is  honor  and  from 
whicii  he  received  large  rentals  during  his 
life,  while  his  descendants  yet  obtain  a  good 
income  from  the  property  which  was  for- 
merly owned  by  their  ancestor.  Jesse  Hyatt 
married  Ann  Riggs,  and  they  became  jthe; 
parents  of  five  children:  Elisha,  Phillip, 
Jesse,  Sarah  and  Caroline.  Of  this  family 
Phillip  Hyatt  was  the  father  of  our  suljject. 
He  married  Rizbah  N.  Watkins,  and  unto 
them  were  born  twelve  children :  Luther 
L.,  Ann  Riggs,  Susan  Matilda,  Phillip 
Hammond,  Joseph  Hamilton,  Elizabeth 
Sarah,  Caroline,  Olive,  Mlaria,  Columbus 
D.,  Columbia  and  John  Thomas.  The  last 
named  died  in  the  Civil  war.  Tlie  father, 
Phillip  Hyatt,  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1812,  enlisting  from  Maryland  and  serving 
until  the  close  of  hostilities,  during  which 
time  he  experienced  many  of  the  hardships 
and  rigors  of  war.  He  followed  farming  as 
a  life  work  and  died  in  Mount  Vernon, 
Ohio,  in  1882. 

The  foundation    for    the    education  of 


240 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


Luther  L.  Hyatt  was  laid  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  county,  which  he  attended  for 
one  year.  When  a  lad  of  nine  summers 
he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  the  family 
taking  up  their  abode  in  Liberty  township 
in  1832.  In  the  old-time  subscription 
schools  here  Mr.  Hyatt  completed  his  edu- 
cation. The  school  house  was  built  of  logs, 
the  floor  was  constructed  of  puncheons,  the 
seats  were  of  slabs  and  the  wi"iting  desk 
was  formed  of  a  long,  rough  board  fastened 
to  the  wall  and  extending  the  entire  length 
of  the  building.  One  entire  end  of  the 
room  was  occupied  by  the  fireplace,  which 
was  large  enough  for  a  big  log  to  be  rolled 
into  it.  After  acquiring  his  primary  educa- 
tion amid  such  primitive  stu'roundings  Mr. 
Hyatt  spent  one  year  in  a  select  school  in 
Mount  Vernon,  and  in  th-e  meantime  he 
aided  in  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  the 
wild  land,  converting  it  into  fields  ready  for 
cultivation  and  raising  the  first  crops,  which 
were  planted  among  the  stumps,  for  the 
roots  of  trees  were  so  thick  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  use  a  plow  and  an  old  straight- 
tooth  drag  was  utilized  in  loosening  the 
ground  so  that  the  seed  could  be  planted. 
One  of  the  first  tools  that  Mr.  Hyatt  ever 
handled  was  an  ax  weighing  four  pounds, 
and  with  this  he  cut  a  great  many  trees 
while  clearing  the  land  of  his  father's  farm. 
He  continued  to  use  that  impleiment  for 
many  years,  and  with  other  primitive  farm 
machinery  aided  in  carrying  on  the  farm 
work.  Mr.  Hyatt  developed  into  a  prac- 
tical farmer  and  continuously  engaged  in 
the  raising  of  the  cereals  best  adapted  to 
this  climate  until  1881,  when  he  retired 
from  active  business  life  and  purchased  a 
handsome  residence  on  North  Main  street, 


where  he  is  still  living.  He  still  owns  a 
valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  five  acres 
of  highly  improved  land  in  Wayne  town- 
ship, the  greater  part  of  which  is  under  cul- 
tivation and  from  which  he  derives  annually 
a  good  income. 

In  March,  1853,  Mr.  Hyatt  secured  as 
a  companion  and  helpmate  on  the  journey 
of  life  Miss  Malinda  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
Preserve  Smith,  and  unto  them  were  born 
four  children :  Charles  Hamilton,  a  farmer 
of  Wayne  township;  Louella,  the  wife  of 
Alonzo  Rock,  of  Canton,  Ohio;  Carrie 
Josephine,  the  wife  of  Frank  McFadden,  of 
Mount  Vernon;  and  John,  \Vlro  is  living  in 
Red  Lodge,  M(ontana.  After  the  death  of 
his  first  wife  Mr.  Hyatt  wedded  Matilda 
Ann  \Valker,  a  daughter  of  William 
Walker.  She,  too,  died  and  he  married 
Miss  Catherine  Davis  Wolfe,  a  daughter 
of  Eli  and  Caroline  (Hyatt)  Wolfe. 

At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  H)-att 
put  aside  all  personal  consideration  and  in 
1864,  in  Mount  Vernon,  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-second 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  one  hundred 
days'  service.  He  participated  in  several 
skirmishes,  but  was  mostly  engaged  in 
guard  duty,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  \\as 
honorably  discharged  and  mustered  out  at 
Columbus.  He  is  now  a  member  of  Joe 
Hooker  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Mount  Vernon, 
and  in  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican. 
He  has  held  several  township  offices  and  in 
1870  was  made  county  infinnary  director, 
which  position  he  held  for  two  terms.  He 
has  always  been  prominently  identified  with 
movements  for  the  general  good,  co- 
operating heartily  in  advancing  many  such 
measures.  Great  changes  have  occurred 
since  he  came  to  the  county  and  a  wonder- 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


ful  transformation  has  been  wrought,  for 
the  \\ild  lands  have  been  reclaimed  for  pur- 
poses of  civilization,  and  where  once  stood 
dense  forests  are  now  seen  fields  rich  in 
golden  grain.  The  work  of  progress  has 
been  carried  steadily  forward  and  no  one 
has  taken  greater  pride  in  what  has  been  ac- 
complished than  this  honored  pioneer, 
Luther  L.  Hyatt,  who  for  seventy  years  has 
resided  within  the  borders  of  Knox  county. 


JOSEPH  ADDISON  RIcFARLAND. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  of  Scotch- 
Holland  ancestry,  early  representatives  of 
the  family  of  McFarland  having  fled  from 
Scotland  to  Ireland  to  escape  persecution  in 
their  native  land  and  come  over  later  in  the 
Mayflowier  to  Amierica,  and  his  mother's 
forefathers  having  been  born  and  having 
lived  for  many  generations  in  Holland. 

Joseph  A.  McFarland  is  a  son  of  William 
Scott  and  Anna  (Pierson)  McFarland,  and 
was  born  in  Clay  township,  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  October  i6,  1824.  He  began  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  of  that  town- 
ship, and  when  he  was  seven  years  old  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Morgan  township, 
settling  on  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home. 
After  that  he  pursued  his  studies  in  the  pub- 
lic school  near  by  and  at  the  old  academy  at 
Martinsburg.  He  was  early  instructed  in 
the  mysteries  of  successful  farming,  has 
been  a  fanner  all  his  life  except  during  one 
year,  when  he  was  a  clerk  in  a  general  store 
in  Martinsburg  and  now  owiis  a  home  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  acres  in  Mor- 
gan township  and  an  eighty-acre  farm  in 
Clay  township.     While  doing  general  farm- 


ing he  has  devoted  himself  especially  to  the 
breeding  of  Merino  sheep,  being  now  the 
owner  of  a  fine  flock  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  head.  Mr.  McFarland's  long  and 
useful  life  covers  much  of  the  period  of  the 
development  of  the  country  around  him,  and 
in  his  early  days  he  helped  to  clear  land  and 
put  it  under  cultivation,  and  since  then  he 
has  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  those 
who  have  been  most  active  and  influential  in 
making  the  improvements  now  visible  on 
every  hand. 

Mr.  McFarland  afliliates  with  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  has  been  a  Republican 
since  the  organization  of  that  party.  He 
had  voted  at  but  two  presidential  elections 
prior  to  1856,  and  that  year  he  voted  for 
John  C.  Fremont,  and  he  takes  pride  in  the 
fact  that  he  has  voted  for  each  successive 
Republican  nominee  since  that  time.  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1858,  he  married  Margaret  H. 
Graham,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Ross)  Graham,  who  has  borne  him  children 
as  follows :  Hannah  Mary,  who  married 
David  Harriman  and  lives  at  Newark,  Ohio ; 
Orra  Jean,  who  is  a  member  of  her  father's 
household;  Carrie,  who  died  in  November, 
1883,  aged  twenty-two  years ;  John  Howard, 
who  married  Grace  Pierson,  who  is  now 
dead,  and  is  a  school  teacher  at  Bank  Sta- 
tion, Knox  county;  and  Emma  and  Libbie, 
residents  of  Martinsburg.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  December  21,  1875,  and 
December  25,  1876,  Mr.  McFarland  married 
Mrs.  Flora  Morrison,  daughter  of  Patterson 
P.  and  Nancy  (Kirkpatrick)  Pierson. 

William  Scott  McFarland,  father  of  Jo- 
seph Addison  McFarland,  was  born  in  Am- 
well  township,  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  181 1  emigrated  to-  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Clay  township,  Knox  county,  where 


242 


A    CENTENNIAL    BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 


he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he 
owned  until  his  death  in  1865.  His  wife, 
Anna  Pierson,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Van  Dyke)  Pierson,  sun-ived  him  until 
1871.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
named  as  follows  in  the  order  of  their  na- 
tivity:  John  M.,  who  died  at  seventy-eight 
years  of  age;  Jane,  who  died  an  infant; 
Emily,  a  maiden  lady ;  Thomas,  who  died  in 
infancy ;  Joseph  Addison,  who  is  the  imme- 
diate subject  of  this  sketch ;  and  Samuel,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  Mr.  McFar- 
land's  great-grandfather,  Colonel  Daniel 
McFarland,  commanded  a  regiment  in  the 
colonial  service  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  Iiis  maternal  great-grandfather,  John 
Pierson,  also  fought  for  American  inde- 
pendence. 


MATHEW  WELSH. 

For  many  decades  Mathew  Welsh  has 
been  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Knox 
county,  and  is  well  deserving  of  a  place  in 
a  volume  which  contains  the  histories  of  tiie 
county's  most  substantial  men.  He  has 
made  an  untarnished  record  and  unspotted 
reputation  in  industrial  circles,  and  in  all 
places  and  under  all  circumstances  he  is 
loyal  to  truth,  honor  and  right,  justly  re- 
garding his  O'wn  self-respect  as  infinitely 
more  desirable  than  wealth,  fame  or  position. 

Mr.  Welsh  was  born  in  Lower  Canada, 
about  nine  miles  from  Montreal,  on  the  2d 
of  October,  1839.  His  father,  Morris 
Welsh,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  when  a 
young  man  he  left  the  land  of  his  birth  for 
the  new  world,  locating  in  Vermont,  where 
he  was  married  to  Julia  Dewire.    Afterward 


he  removed  with  his  wife  to  Canada,  and 
about  1845  thsy  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Richland  county.  In  the  following  year  they 
took  up  their  abode  in  Howard  township, 
•Knox  county,  and  the  father's  death  occurred 
in  Paulding  county,  this  state,  when  he  haa 
reached  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  His 
wife  died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of 
forty-three  years.  She,  too,  was  a 
native  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  Unto  this 
worthy  couple  were  born  six  children,  five 
sons  and  one  daughter,  namely :  Edward, 
who  laid  down  his  life  on  the  altar  of  his 
country,  having  been  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg ;  William,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business  in  Mount  Vernon; 
Mathew,  the  subject  of  this  review ;  John,  a 
retired  farmer  of  Nebraska;  Johanna,  the 
wife  of  William  Sapp,  oi  Knox  county  :  and 
Morris,  who  is  a  painter  of  Centerburg, 
Ohio. 

^Mathew  Welsh  was  about  six  years  of 
age  when  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  in  the  district 
schools  of  Howard  township  he  received  his 
early  educational  privileges.  He  was  left 
an  orphan  when  eleven  years  old,  and  at 
that  early  age  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources  to  fight  life's  battles  as  best  he 
could.  He  has  indeed  battled  earnestly  and 
energetically,  and  by  indomitable  courage 
and  integrity  has  achieved  both  character 
and  affluence.  In  1859  he  crossed  the  plains 
with  an  ox  team  and  cart  to  Pike's  Peak, 
seven  weeks  and  four  days  having  been  con- 
sumed in  the  journey  from  St.  Joe  to  Den- 
ver, Colorado,  and  in  that  state  he  was  en- 
gaged in  mining  for  the  following  thtee 
years.  In  1862  he  returned  to  Knox  county, 
and  in  the   following  year  he   offered  his 


OF    KNOX    COUNTY,    OHIO. 


243. 


services  to  the  Union  cause,  enlisting'  in 
Company  I,  Second  Ohio  Heav)-  Artillery, 
entering  the  ranks  as  a  private.  During-  his 
army  service  he  took  part  in  many  of  the 
important  battles,  and  for  three  months 
served  as  a  guard  to  General  Scofield.  Dur- 
ing his  entire  term  of  service  he  was  never 
wounded,  but  at  the  battle  of  Morristown 
he  recei\-ed  nine  bullet  holes  in  his  clothing, 
one  bullet  having  passed  through  his  hat. 
For  meritorious  conduct  on  the  field  of  bat- 
tle he  was  promoted  from  a  private  to  first 
sergeant  of  his  company,  and  at  the  close 
of  hostilities,  in  1865,  he  was  honorably 
discharg-ed  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  after 
which  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Knox 
county.  After  his  marriage,  which  occurred 
in  1866,  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Howard 
township,  where  he  remained  until  1892,  and 
from  that  time  until  the  ist  of  I\Iay,  1901, 
he  made  his  home  upon  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  which  he  had  purchased 
in  Monroe  township.  At  the  latter  date  he 
retired  from  the  active  duties  of  the  farm  and 
located  in  Howard,  where  he  is  now  living 
in  cjuiet  retirement,  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
former  toil. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1866,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  Mr.  Welsh  a